West Visayas State University (WVSU) held a lecture and forum titled “Media, Women, and Climate Change: Portrayals, Perspectives, and Politics” on Thursday, September 11, at 2:30 p.m. at the WVSU Rehearsal Room, Main Campus.
The event featured Dr. Ian Weber, an Australian journalist, writer, and novelist affiliated with Bond University and the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.
Organized by the Public Affairs and Marketing Communications Office (PAMCO), in partnership with the College of Education’s SILAK Media and Iloilo Art Life, the forum aimed to deepen understanding of how media representations intersect with issues of gender and climate change, and to foster dialogue among students on these pressing global concerns.
Student publications and partners from the Gender and Development Office were invited to participate, recognizing the relevance of the discussion to journalism, gender advocacy, and social awareness.
“What is the difference between diversity of media and diversity of opinion? If all the media present the same opinion, you’re only going to get one perspective,” Weber told participants as he emphasized the need for plurality in media discourse.
Students also posed thought-provoking questions about the ethical dilemmas they may face as journalists and communicators in the university.
The forum encouraged active participation and critical discussions among students, strengthening their awareness of the media’s role in shaping perspectives on women and the environment.
Weber also recently spoke before English majors in a special lecture on autobiographical literature held on September 9 at the Center for Foreign Languages – Rehearsal Room. The lecture, organized by the English Majors’ Organization in partnership with the English Language Teaching Division of the College of Education, explored heroism and anti-heroism in personal narratives.
Drawing from his autobiographical novel Apted Park and his 35 years of professional writing, Weber discussed how contradictions shape authentic storytelling and highlighted how deconstructive readings influence literary perspectives.
These back-to-back talks highlight WVSU’s commitment to shaping critical thinkers through bold conversations on literature, media, and global issues.
#WVSUTransformingGenerations #WVSUexcels
By WVSU PAMCO
