Promoting Global Citizenship through an Information-Based Focus on United Nations International Events

Communication Department, College of Arts & Sciences, University of St. La Salle, La Salle Avenue, Bacolod 6100, Negros Occidental, Philippines

^* e-mail: avdelc@gmail.com

Abstract

Rapid advances in technology, information, and transportation have made true what was once just an idea. This was popularized by communication scholar Marshall McLuhan into a reality. These advances have consequently helped develop global citizenship education. With this development comes the realization that young people need not go out of their country to embrace global citizenship. What Journalism and Print Media students at the University of St. La Salle did to heighten their global citizenship education was to use mass and social media to promote selected international events of the United Nations under the project, ―Connecting… Informing… We Are Citizens of the World‖. The feedback of the students show that such approach is an effective tool in making young people aware and be involved in the discussion and action for social justice and peace, which are requisites of global citizenship. This paper hopes to share with other S-L advocates, especially those in Communication programs that they can be vital channels in promoting global citizenship among their students as well as strategies they can use, and consequently, contribute to efforts toward the attainment of international peace, unity amid diversity and development.