Emerging media and news powerhouse NET25 is making a concerted push for greater reach and wider readership of its opinion columns, whose writers offer different perspectives and alternative views on pressing national and local issues.
The NET25.com online portal dedicates prominent space to its column writers under “Voices”. Instead of presenting opinion columns in traditional printed media, the network is heavily banking on the Internet to share content.
The columnists who present fresh voices and views include Weng Dela Fuente (“Datos Online”), Cesar Vallejos (“The Bald Life”), Wilma Galvante (“Fade In. Fade Out”), Laila Tumanan (“Opinyon Ko Lang”), Cesar Batingal (“Eksena”), Alma Angeles (“Alma Matters”), Misael Dungca III (“Anyare!?”), Rikki Mathay (“Between the Headlines”) and Everett Quebral (“Tech With A Conscience”).
Topics range from politics to technology, entertainment to lifestyle. The columnists are all veterans and experts in their respective fields. Their aim is to influence, inform and educate.
NET25 relies on the credibility of its content providers to broaden the network’s reach through expansion of its traditional media conduits in television and radio, and likewise with increasing emphasis on online and Internet channels which Filipinos these days gravitate to more.
Realizing the reduction in public preference for traditional reading, NET25 is investing resources and manpower in a gradual shift to a more audio and visual oriented information dissemination.
The media outlet is strongly considering experimenting on allowing Artificial Intelligence voices to “read” column content to the audience, much like experiencing an e-book. That way, technology assists in informing the public through NET25’s columnists.
NET25 has been slowly establishing itself as Philippine media’s “alternative mainstream”. It wants its list of credible opinion shapers to be a crucial part of that strategy.
