SU Mass Comm student leads media literacy workshop for NOHS
Silliman University (SU) student leader and Mister Hibalag 2024 Ryan Rikaz C. Ibrahim, a senior Mass Communication major, spearheaded the Byte Back: Troll Toll Lecture Series and Workshop held on October 16, 2025, at the SU Multipurpose Room.
The event gathered student leaders and campus journalists from Negros Oriental High School (NOHS) through the endorsement and approval of the Department of Education – Negros Oriental Division. Among the participants were officers of the Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG), publication staff from The Network (English) and Budyong (Filipino), and other selected student representatives.
Organized in collaboration with the SU Office of Community Engagement and Service Learning (OCESL), the College of Mass Communication (CMC), and the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB), the activity aimed to raise awareness on cyber harassment and bullying by promoting media literacy as a means of prevention and empowerment.
The lecture series opened with Assistant Professor Ronelyn Faith Vailoces-No of the SU CMC, who discussed the fundamentals of media literacy. She was followed by Ibrahim, who presented his advocacy project, Byte Back: Troll Toll, which emphasizes responsible and mindful online behavior. Mary Cindy Uy, Program Coordinator of the CLB, then talked about Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), underscoring the importance of vigilance and legal awareness in digital spaces. The series concluded with Assistant Professor Donald Paul Antone of CMC, who facilitated a hands-on workshop on producing effective radio public service announcements (PSAs).
After the sessions, the participants produced English and Filipino radio PSAs designed to be aired during their school flag-raising ceremonies. These PSAs highlight the principles of Pause, Think, Check, and Click, encouraging students to engage online with responsibility and empathy.
Now on its 13th run since its launch in February 2024, the Byte Back: Troll Toll campaign continues to expand its reach by empowering student leaders and peer educators to sustain digital literacy efforts in their respective schools and communities. The initiative helps young people critically assess online content, practice responsible digital citizenship, and contribute to safer online spaces.
The event also served as a course-based community engagement project under COM 41: Community Communication/Journalism, integrating academic learning with practical advocacy in the field of media literacy.
