With generative AI now commonly used in classrooms and academic spaces, how can educators and researchers explore its potential while safeguarding learning and academic integrity? This question set the tone for the very first session of the AIJC Footnotes Learning Huddle on July 3, 2026.

In response to student feedback identifying AI as a key area of interest, the free online session on AI and Academic Integrity was organized by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) via MS Teams, led by faculty member Dr. Pauline Gidget Estella.

AIJC students and their guests participated in the online session.  

AIJC President Therese San Diego Torres underscored in her opening remarks the need for ethical, transparent, and responsible AI use that strengthens, rather than undermines, scholarship.

She shared that the session builds on AIJC’s continuing work in media and information literacy and follows the Institute’s participation in the UNESCO VIII International Conference on the Tangible and Intangible Impact of Information and Communication in the Digital Age in June. The global discussions, she noted, have opened opportunities for collaboration with UNESCO on responsible AI governance, digital literacy, and future learning initiatives.

Dr. Estella then unpacked the opportunities and challenges of generative AI. She urged participants to look beyond AI’s convenience and consider the bigger questions surrounding the technology, from data colonialism and intellectual property to privacy, AI hallucinations, and its environmental footprint. She also introduced the concept of “cognitive atrophy,” warning that excessive dependence on AI could weaken people’s ability to think, write, and solve problems independently.

At the same time, Dr. Estella emphasized that AI is not something to fear or reject outright. It has real value in research and journalism, particularly for tasks such as transcription, proofreading, and analyzing large datasets. What remains essential, she stressed, is human oversight. AI may generate text quickly, but it cannot replace critical thinking, creativity, ethical judgment, or a writer’s unique voice.

The discussion continued in an engaging Q&A moderated by President Torres, with AIJC Graduate School students exploring topics ranging from AI regulation and teacher training to media and information literacy and the future of learning assessment. Dr. Estella called for guided and informed AI use grounded in strong foundations in writing, research, and critical thinking.

Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) President Therese San Diego Torres called for a fundamental rethinking of media and information literacy education in the age of artificial intelligence during the VIII International Conference on Tangible and Intangible Impact of Information and Communication in the Digital Age, held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russian Federation, from June 17–19, 2026.

Torres was among the invited speakers in the session, “Information Literacy in the New Digital Environment: Trust, Confidentiality, Responsibility,” moderated by UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) Project Officer in Education Tatiana Murovana. The conference was organized in the framework of the implementation of the UNESCO Information for All Programme (IFAP) and the XVII International IT Forum.

In her presentation, Torres emphasized that artificial intelligence is transforming how people create, consume, and evaluate information, making it necessary to update and expand media and information literacy education. She noted that learners today must develop the ability to understand not only whether information is accurate, but also who created it, how it was produced, what evidence supports it, and what biases or influences may shape it. Equally important, she said, is cultivating intellectual humility, the willingness to revise one’s views when presented with stronger evidence.

Drawing from 2025 studies in the Philippines, Torres highlighted the growing dependence of students on generative AI tools and the resulting decline in intellectual engagement. She cited research showing that students themselves recognize this dependence as “dishonest” and detrimental to genuine learning, producing a “false sense of achievement without true understanding” (Secreto et al., 2025; Rodrigo et al., 2025).

She noted that these concerns extend beyond the Philippines. A 2025 survey of young adults in the United States found that a large proportion of Generation Z expressed anxiety about losing essential cognitive and skill-building opportunities due to overreliance on AI tools (Lira et al., 2026). 

Torres argued that the role of educators should not be limited to detecting AI-generated content or enforcing restrictions. Instead, educators should focus on helping students further understand what is lost in cognitive development when they outsource thinking, research, and writing to machines. At the same time, educators should equip their students to strengthen core competencies by first modeling fundamental skills, before introducing the ethical use of AI tools—a key lesson emphasized in AIJC’s training program on the ethical use of AI in research and writing.

Another key theme in the presentation was the importance of youth participation in shaping AI literacy education. Torres emphasized the need to design learning approaches that align with behaviors and motivations of younger generations. To support this, she highlighted the use of culturally relevant communication channels, including social media and popular culture. She shared an example of a collaboration among AIJC, the National Library of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and P-Pop group SB19. Through such partnerships, educational content for promoting appreciation of national cultural heritage, memory institutions, and historical artifacts is produced for, and with, young people.

She noted that this approach aligns with broader international efforts to engage the youth in education and cultural advocacy, such as UNESCO’s collaboration with K-pop group Seventeen.

Torres concluded that the future of AI in education depends on ethical leadership and responsible use. Students, she said, should be empowered to understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI and to use these technologies as tools that enhance, rather than replace, human judgment, creativity, and critical thinking.

These ideas continue to shape AIJC’s initiatives. On July 3, 2026, the Institute’s new learning huddle series, AIJC Footnotes, featured a discussion on Academic Integrity and AI led by AIJC faculty member Dr. Pauline Gidget Estella. The session reinforced AIJC’s commitment to promoting the ethical use of AI while strengthening critical thinking and academic integrity.

Murovana and Torres are also members of the UNESCO Information Literacy Working Group (ILWG), one of the groups working on the implementation of UNESCO Information for All Programme.

From the classroom to the global conference circuit, members of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) community extend the reach of their research through international scholarly exchange.

Princess Catherine Pabellano, who took up Master of Arts in Journalism at AIJC and is now faculty member at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, presented her master’s thesis on media framing of the West Philippine Sea at two international conferences, most recently at the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) 2026 Conference in Galway, Ireland.

In this interview, Pabellano discusses the research journey that began at AIJC, the insights she gained from presenting at IAMCR 2026, and how the experience reaffirmed that meaningful research is measured by its contribution to society.

AIJC: Congratulations on presenting at the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) 2026 Conference in Galway, Ireland. Can you briefly share about the research you completed as a student at AIJC and what inspired you to pursue it?

Pabellano: The research that I presented is part/a portion of my master’s thesis at AIJC titled “Framing of the West Philippine Sea Dispute in Philippine-Based and China-Based Online News Platforms and Its Implication on Conflict Reporting.” It was my initial proposal for the Research Methods course under Prof. Moppet [Varlez] that I eventually developed into my thesis under the guidance of Prof. Felnita Tan. I became interested in the topic when I encountered the Transnational Comparative Framing Model (TCFM) by Lei Guo, Avery Holton, and Sun Ho Jeong. It posits that different countries can frame a transnational issue differently based on their ideology. Hence, it prompted me to look at how the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea was framed by two of the countries that have strong claims on the disputed territory.

AIJC: What motivated you to submit your work to IAMCR, and how did your research connect with this year’s theme, “Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation”?

Pabellano: IAMCR is one of the widest and most popular organizations in communication and media studies. Next to ICA [International Communication Association], their conferences are my dream avenue to present my research. It is actually my second time presenting my research at an IAMCR event. The first one was in 2024, when I presented my study that I completed as part of the requirements for the class of Prof. [Christine] Avendaño of AIJC. I was not very optimistic that I would be able to present at that time because the conference was in New Zealand. However, I was selected as one of the recipients of IAMCR’s travel grant, and I was able to secure some funding from the local government of Lucena. When I finished my thesis in December 2025, I promised myself that this research should be presented on a bigger platform. I feel like I owe it to my study and to the people who helped me along the way to disseminate it to a global audience. Regarding this year’s conference theme, I think my research is aligned with it because it examines how media construct competing narratives about a geopolitical conflict which is often positioned at the margins of global power. In the process, it reveals how communication processes shape international relations and public understanding

AIJC: This was your second time presenting your research at an international conference, following your presentation at the 4th FRAMEwork: Asia-Pacific Communication Conference in Manila. What was it like presenting to an international audience outside the Philippines, and what feedback or insights stood out to you?

Pabellano: The international audience outside the Philippines is more interested in the impact of my study rather than the methodology and framework. I believe it affirms that research must be conducted in order to be beneficial to the communities we are studying. What stood out for me is how the findings and conclusions of my study can contribute to the field of journalism, particularly in conflict reporting.

AIJC: How did your education and experiences at AIJC help prepare you for this opportunity?

Pabellano: My education and experiences at AIJC opened many opportunities for me. For instance, right after completing my master’s at AIJC, I was hired as faculty at UPLB. And UPLB is the one that provided funding for my participation in IAMCR. The trust and support of the faculty of AIJC, particularly Dr. Paz [Diaz] and Prof. Moppet [Varlez] encouraged me to take chances in the international academic landscape. The strong theoretical foundation from the class of Atty. Elgene [Feliciano] gave me confidence that I am on the right track in the research framework that I decided to explore. And of course, the critical lens from the class of Prof. Rommel [Lopez] and the technical writing skills from the class of Prof. Avendaño were equally significant in this endeavor.

AIJC: What were your key takeaways from IAMCR 2026?

Pabellano: On a personal note, what I got from this experience is to keep on taking chances. Even if the possibilities are slim, we have to take chances because chances never taken become regrets. From an academic perspective, the participation in the conference rekindled my love for research. I realized that more than the academic satisfaction of discovery, research plays an important role in examining important issues in society in order to recognize which voices are amplified and which are silenced. Or which narratives are highlighted. This is an initial step to recognize the inequality or equality proliferating in the global media. And if there [is] inequality, findings of our research would help dismantle these kinds of narratives.

AIJC: What advice would you give current students who intend to share their research through international conferences?

Pabellano: Do not invalidate or devalue yourself, your abilities, or your study. Subject your research to academic review because only then can it be improved. There will be rejections. Last year, my paper was declined in IAMCR 2025 in Singapore. While initially disheartened, I pushed myself to rise from the situation. I tried again this year.

AIJC: Are there any other upcoming conferences you plan to join? How are you preparing for them?

Pabellano: Two other researches on the same topic (West Philippine Sea dispute) were accepted [for] the AMIC Conference in Manila this November, and the 11th International Communication and Media Studies Conference this October in Singapore. A paper on risk disaster reportage was also accepted [for] a conference in Kyoto in October, but for this I opted for an online presentation. Currently, I am finalizing my full paper for the AMIC conference. I am reviewing the highlights and impact of the study, as I have learned from attending IAMCR 2026 that these are the important areas that should be included in the presentation.

The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) conducted a Teaser Lecture and Virtual Open House on June 17, 2026, featuring an online discussion on issues management and crisis communication. The webinar reviewed a recent drowning incident involving university student-athletes as a real-world case study to analyze institutional crisis response.

During the online event, Janess Ann Ellao, AIJC lecturer and resource person for issues management and crisis communication, mapped the situation using communication expert Joep Cornelissen’s “issue to crisis” pressure curve to show exactly how the problem escalated into a full-blown crisis.

To understand this shift, Ellao analyzed 503 crisis-specific TikTok posts published between June 8 and June 15, 2026. The content contained distinct thematic campaigns: Demands for Justice & Accountability led with 171 posts, followed closely by Grief, Tributes, and Direct Mourning (133 posts) and Independent News Coverage (106 posts). Another 24 posts focused on Archival Receipts & Systemic Leaks, where netizens unearthed older digital logs.

According to Ellao, this digital onslaught thrived in a climate of official silence. In the two-day gap between the university’s art cards dated June 8 and June 10, online content creators rapidly filled the information vacuum, racking up an astonishing 142 million views.

Ellao noted that these art cards apparently violated stakeholder expectations, pointing to crisis framework concepts developed by W. Timothy Coombs. She observed that the university’s seemingly clinical reaction deeply offended the Filipino core value of pakikipagkapwa—which prizes treating others as absolute human equals. By prioritizing brand protection over pakikiramay (shared grief), the institution’s initial corporate response was ultimately coded by the public as arrogance.

The online event featured Dr. Paz Diaz, AIJC Vice President for Academics and Dean of Graduate School, who introduced and explained the Institute’s graduate program offerings to prospective students.

A total of 17 prospective students attended the online event.

AIJC Teaser Lectures and Virtual Open Houses are held twice a month. An upcoming Virtual Open House is scheduled for July 7, 2026. Register here.

AIJC President Therese San Diego Torres delivered the keynote address at the Research COMMloquium of the National University (NU) Fairview held on June 2, 2026, with the theme “Voices, Narratives and Virtualities: Navigating Media and Communication in a Rapidly Evolving Digital Landscape.”

Torres discussed the need for ethical digital participation amid the growing influence of artificial intelligence on how information is produced, distributed, and consumed. She noted that while digital platforms have expanded opportunities for participation and amplified marginalized voices, they have also contributed to the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation and enabled the spread of misogynistic, misleading, and sensationalized content through engagement-driven algorithms.

The event was organized by the team of Joana Marie delos Reyes, AIJC alumnus and NU Fairview BA Communication Chairperson, and Ma. Jesusa Legua, AIJC student and NU faculty member.

The colloquium showcased research by the inaugural batch of BA Communication students. Their presentations explored a range of contemporary media and communication issues, such as the use of social media in journalism, the influence of trauma exposure on journalists’ coping mechanisms and news framing, and gossip and fact-checking in online political discourse.

In her opening remarks, delos Reyes emphasized how “ideas, when pursued with discipline and determination, become knowledge, and knowledge, when shared, becomes impact.”

The event marked AIJC’s second communication research colloquium engagement with college students this year. The Institute aims to strengthen its engagement with communication schools through campus visits and webinars.

AIJC students affiliated with academic institutions may coordinate with the Graduate School for related collaborations.

The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) hosted a Teaser Lecture and Virtual Open House on May 20 focused on academic integrity and the ethical use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in research and writing.

The featured teaser lecture, titled “Academic Integrity and AI in Research,” was delivered by Dr. Pauline Gidget Estella, AIJC faculty member. She shared critical insights on navigating the ethical boundaries of using AI in scholarly work.

Drawing from her 2021 and 2023 studies, Dr. Estella outlined the “most important competencies necessary in working with AI in technical writing.” These include technological profile competencies, or the “skills you perform within technology when it comes to AI,” such as “evaluating AI-generated outputs” and “prompt engineering.”

She also emphasized the importance of “cognitive-behavioral base competencies,” including understanding how AI works, practicing critical reflection on the sociological dimensions of AI, and upholding accountability and transparency in the use of AI.

At the same time, Dr. Estella cautioned against overreliance on generative AI tools, warning that dependence on these technologies may result in poor-quality writing and weaken a writer’s ability to think critically and communicate clearly.

The event aimed to spread awareness on the ethical use of AI while giving prospective students a firsthand experience of the academic rigor and discussion culture within the Graduate School. AIJC President Therese San Diego Torres underscored the importance of proactive discussions on the ethical use of emerging technologies.

The virtual open house also served as a briefing for individuals seeking to advance their careers in media and communication. The Institute offers three graduate programs designed to meet contemporary industry demands:

Master of Arts in Journalism

Master of Arts in Communication

Master in Communication Major in Public Relations and Corporate Communication

For those who missed it, another Virtual Open House will be held on June 3, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Dr. Paz H. Diaz, AIJC Vice President for Academics and Dean, will discuss the ladderized structure of the master’s programs, as well as the class schedules and admissions process.

Interested applicants are encouraged to register for the free Virtual Open House here.