i Minagåhet – Ellet: Reporting the Truth in the Northern Mariana Islands
The Minagåhet – Ellet Project was created to raise awareness of the functions of the media that are important to the democratic process among residents of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The Project produced a media survey to examine media literacy, media use and perceptions, and civic attitudes among CNMI residents. Project scholars and other professionals with a background in broadcasting and journalism participated in the Minagåhet / Ellet Webinar Series to discuss the results of this survey and the role of news media.
The Project continues with tentative plans to showcase a forum by the end of 2022 to engage local news makers, consumers, public relations specialists, journalists and media organizations in discussions of the media as a force for transparency and accountability in government.
News Media Survey
The Northern Marianas Humanities Council conducted a community survey from October to November 2020 to assess CNMI residents’ levels of engagement in local news and news media literacy, as well as involvement in local civic and political processes. This is a comprehensive quantitative research study on news media engagement and civic vibrancy that is the first of its kind to be conducted in the CNMI. A total of 481 respondents completed the survey with the results published in the i Minagåhet – Ellet: Reporting the Truth in the Northern Mariana Islands report.
A summary of results may be viewed in the i Minagåhet – Ellet News Media Survey – A Quick Look brochure.
Webinar Series
May 19, 2021 – Public Health & the Media Amid a Pandemic. Maria Dizon and Thomas Mangloña examine the general response to COVID-19 and how the local and national media play a role in communicating public health guidelines and preventing misinformation.
July 9, 2021 – Minagåhet – Ellet Series Episode 1 Dr. Francis Dalisay distills the News Media Survey results as they relate to use and perceived trustworthiness of both local news sources and social media. Thomas Manloña presents information about regional news coverage.
July 16, 2021 – Minagåhet – Ellet Series Episode 2 Dr. Francis Dalisay and Catherine Perry discuss the News Media Survey results as they relate to news consumption, news media skepticism, and news media literacy.
July 30, 2021 – Minagåhet – Ellet Series Episode 3 Dr. Francis Dalisay and Manny Cruz discuss results of the News Media Survey and its relation to values in the CNMI, to include reciprocity, respect for the elderly, inafa’maolek and more.
This Project was funded by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Democracy and the Informed Citizen Initiative administered through the Federation of State Humanities Councils.
Project Scholar(s)
Dr. Francis Dalisay serves as the i Minagåhet – Ellet project’s lead scholar and chief architect of the news media survey. Dr. Dalisay is an associate professor of communication at the University of Guam. He teaches courses in journalism and digital communication technologies, and serves as the publisher for Triton’s Call, UOG’s campus newspaper. Dr. Dalisay’s research examines the role of media in facilitating civic and political engagement, and the impact of communication technologies on health outcomes.
Thomas Mangloña served in an advisory capacity for the Project and lead a webinar event entitled, Public Health & the Media Amid a Pandemic. Mr. Mangloña is from the island of Rota and has worked as a reporter for the Marianas Variety, Saipan Tribune, KUAM News, ABC7 in San Francisco, and the UC Berkley’s student TV station, CalTV. He is the co-founder of www.oceaniaconnects.com, a multi-media platform dedicated to sharing stories of the Pacific and organizing with communities impacted by various issues.
Advisory Group
Si Yu’us ma’åsi’ and Ghilisou to the following individuals who contributed to project activities: Kevin Bautista, Florence Calvo, Elsiana Cruz, Maria Dizon, Anita Hofschneider, Thomas Mangloña, Catherine Perry, Arden Sablan, and Jessica Taylor.
