Journalist Ron Lopez is shown here during a trek of the Masungi Georeserve in the Philippines. Photo by Jam Sta Rosa, from the Facebook account of Lopez
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Multimedia journalist Ron Lopez to lead Diploma in Visual Journalism program
Multimedia journalist Ron Lopez to lead Diploma in Visual Journalism program
By the ACFJ, Dec. 23, 2025
MANILA, Philippines — Veteran reporter Ron Lopez has been named coordinator of the Diploma in Visual Journalism (DVJ) program of the Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ) at the Ateneo de Manila University for the upcoming 2026 cycle.
The appointment will see Lopez leading the program period from February to November.
In this role, Lopez will be responsible for the recruitment and guidance of both lecturers and students, the preparation of course schedules, and the supervision of on-campus sessions. He will also assist in reviewing course syllabi to ensure they meet the Ateneo and ACFJ standards regarding Asian content and intellectual integrity.
Lopez is an alumnus of the program he is slated to lead, having earned his Diploma in Visual Journalism from the Ateneo in 2021. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the Bulacan State University.
His extensive professional background spans over 11 years of experience in both international and local news organizations, having served as a video and text correspondent for Agence France-Presse (AFP), and a multimedia reporter for ABS-CBN. He has also produced work for major outlets including Al Jazeera, CNN, and the Voice of America.
Most recently, he worked as a visual journalist and presenter for BenarNews, where he pioneered the organization’s first explainer videos.
Beyond his reporting, Lopez brings significant leadership and pedagogical experience to the ACFJ. He previously served as a journalism instructor at the Bulacan State University, teaching subjects such as news and feature writing, editorial writing, and media law and ethics.
Lopez served as a Director for the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) between 2016 and 2020, and was a Board Member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) between 2024 and 2025. He was also a Fellow of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Media Programme Asia.
As DVJ program coordinator, Lopez will act as the bridge between the professional industry and academic excellence, ensuring that the DVJ program remains reflective of current journalistic best practices.
The DVJ program is designed to provide experienced practitioners with theoretical and ethical approaches to journalism. The curriculum consists of four online step-ladder courses on media law and ethics, visual storytelling, and multimedia, and a specialized course.
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