The ninth media monitor can also be posted here. Reviews of Stories on the Occult and the supernatural reported under “News and Public Affairs” can still be posted, with additional bonus points (bonus for this category: once for each student) — the stories should be current.
(photo by Myra Lambino)
(this week and the next provide good opportunity to review ghost stories as “news and public affairs” reports; although these can still be submitted up to the last week of classes but, as stated, they should be up-to-date). Below are examples of reviews that got the full bonus points last week:
(The Haunting in ABS-CBN) written by papa smurf
“On an episode of TV Patrol Pampanga dated October 17, 2014, a segment featured a huge and old house in Florida Blanca that is claimed to be haunted by spirits. The house is said to have been a camp during the Japanese occupation and that many crimes were committed inside. The news program consulted a paranormal expert to describe what she sees. The expert claims that there are many ghosts inside. She adds that there are still souls trapped in this plane because theyhave unfinished business to settle. She recommends that to help these souls people must pray for them.
“The issue with the segment is it induces belief in the supernatural and the occult. According to the KBP, care must be given in reporting supernatural events. Media people must be careful not to induce belief in the supernatural and the pseudo-scientific. It is quite obvious that the way the segment was edited and the use of eerie sounds was meant to sensationalize the report. The segment even ended with a group of people holding hands to pray for the “ghosts” inside the house.
“By focusing on “ghosts” stories that are meant to entertain on a news platform, news programs become guilty of exploiting people who are easily swayed by superstitious beliefs. It is the job of the media to restrain itself with its obsession with the supernatural especially during the Halloween season.” ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@
(The Conjuring in ABS-CBN) review written by native roses
“Above is the link of Umagang Kay Ganda’s report about spirits haunting a certain school surrounded by different cemeteries in Cavite. According to the report, a person with a hunchback appears at the steps of the building and glares at the people she decides to reveal herself to. Mang Jose, a janitor in the said school also said that a man shows up at night in the attire of jeans and shirt and always gives the said janitor a furious look. Due to these reports, they invited a group of paranormal experts to observe inside the campus that is believed to be haunted by ghosts. According to Jimmy Panganiban, the head of paranormal experts, the school is haunted by different kinds of spirits, and that their power to be felt gets stronger especially this time of the year.
“This report violated the KBP Code of Ethics, Article 13, Superstition and the Occult. The report is unethical because it promotes unsupported beliefs and stories to many people to highlight the upcoming All Souls’ Day this November. It also did not state the name of the school and the last names of some of the persons they interviewed which are very necessary details in factual and proper reporting.”
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(The Elemental in ABS-CBN) by Shain Bianca
“Above is the report of ABS-CBN about the alleged ghost and fairy that was captured on separate camera shots.
“It was obvious that the report was edited in an uncanny or ghostly way. There was even one part where the door was slowly opening leading to a staircase. Another thing I noticed with the first part was that the reporter said, “sa ikalawa at ikatlong shot, makikita ang larawan ng batang nakadungaw sa kanang bintana…” the shot was focused but no child-like image can really be recognized from it.
“For the alleged ‘diwata’ that was captured at a waterfalls shot, it was mentioned that they let a photo editor check the said picture, but nothing was said about it later on.
“The report violated the KBP Broadcast Code Article 13, Superstitions and the Occult. Somehow, the report was inducing belief on the supernatural on the viewers by the way it was edited and by the last spiel of the reporter, which was “totoo man o hindi, pero para sa mga nakapunta na sa dalawang lugar na ito, sadyang may ibang nilalang umano ang nagpaparamdam sa mga bumibisita dito.” Although there was the “totoo man o hindi” clause, the latter made it sound like everything was definitely true.” ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@
written by Mark Sing
“xxxABS-CBN, through its morning show Umagang Kay Ganda, featured a street allegedly infested by ghosts that even show up on broad daylight, just like the criminal elements in the metro. The report featured the interviews of the residents who either live or are usual passersby.
The said report is in direct violation of KBP Code of Ethics for the Broadcast Media, specifically Article 13, Superstition and the Occult. The program is not totally devoted for superstitions and occult, but the way the story was presented, it was as if the infestation and existence of the ghosts is ultimately true. Furthermore, the said report is also in violation of Article 1 of the same code, given that the report is about unconfirmed reports of ghost sightings, and that it is not something that should concern the whole nation and that it seemed like there was no attempt to verify, through interviewing persons like scientistsxxx”
