blog admin’s note: the pertinent provision is from the broadcast code but the media have merged/ converged in the internet, hence, we widened the search and applied the principle online…
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by giancoante on: philstar.com/news-feature/2014/10/30/specters-and-other-spooks-malacanang
” “The Malacañang Palace is not only rich in historical tales, it is also rife with haunted and supernatural stories.”
“The article above is a feature article on ghostly sightings in Malacañang taken from the Palace website. The article narrates stories of disembodied priests, headless guards, haunted pianos, balls of fire, kapres, among others. According to Article 13 of the KBP Code of Ethics for Broadcast Media, “programs featuring superstitions shall not induce belief in them.” Although the article features these supernatural stories, there are attempts to debunk them. For example, Wig Tysmans, the photographer who took the panoramic shot of the Palace featuring a headless guard, explained that long exposure caused the phenomenon. “The now-immortalized security personnel must have held his pose throughout the exposure, only to move his head before it ended,” according to the website. This is ethical because it does not induce belief by presenting a logical explanation. However, not all stories were given logical explanations such as the moving cellist painting and the disembodied priests.”
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by Pauline Celerio on: gmanetwork.com/news/story/publicaffairs/aha/true-horror-stories-sa-aha “xxx AHA’s special entitled “True Horror Stories.” However, what I will be analyzing will not be the video itself, but the teaser article that is published on GMA News Online. xxx the writing style on the article was scattered with “daw”. The word “daw” meaning, they are not espoused and promoted by the show itself, but a general belief of the populace. The writer did not make the claim himself, and attributed what he has written to a belief that somehow, he framed, as “accepted.” xxx the mere presentation and labeling of a story about occult as “True”, means that there is a promotion that such events are real. Is it ethical to air a “true ghost story” without backing it up with facts? “I am in dilemma right now. As I have written before, the purpose of airing topics like these is related to the commemoration of the dead itself, and the ever-pervading interest of the Filipinos for stories of the unexplained. “ “True ghost stories”, they said. But in the end, they questioned its validity, and has not made any claims that it was really true.” ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@
The 10th media monitor can be posted here, either as an embedded comment or an embedded link.
Here are two more samples of reviews of news reports or news features on ghosts (see advisory on previous media monitor posts). The pertinent KBP Broadcast Code provision reads (ito po ang tinutukoy na probisyon ng KBP Broadcast Code):
“KBP Broadcast Code, Art. 13. Superstition and the Occult. Sec. 1. Programs featuring superstitious and pseudo-scientific beliefs and practices, such as supernatural powers, foretelling of the future, astrology, phrenology, palm-reading, numerology, mind-reading, hypnotism, faith healing or similar subjects shall be careful not to induce belief in them. Care shall be taken to prevent the exploitation of people who may be easily swayed by such superstitious and pseudo-scientific beliefs and practices. “Sec.2. Programs or program materials that promote or encourage occult practices, black magic, witchcraft, and similar activities are prohibited.” (KBP Broadcast Code).
Para po ito sa kursong Comm Ethics(This is for the course Comm Ethics). Kasama sa saklaw ng kursong ito ang mga probisyon sa mga code of ethics para sa iba’t ibang media (the scope of the course includes provisions of the code of ethics applicable to various media.).
The reviews are the students’ own interpretation of the provisions. If you have any disagreements about the students’ interpretation or discussion, you may post a comment here.
I guess a news feature on ghosts as news subjects should include, as a minimum requirement, in feiyyrness (in fairness), an interview of the ghost being featured — failing which, the reporter should end the feature with: “sinubukan po naming kunin ang panig ng multong si Casper ngunit hindi po siya tumutugon sa aming mga tawag. Nanatili pong bukas ang aming programa para makuha ang kanyang panig. ” (“we tried to contact Casper the ghost at his office and home number to get his side but as of broadcast time, he was unable to respond to our request for an interview. Our lines remain open to air his side.”).
;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ Ghost Rider by mattgador “xxx article posted on Inquirer.net (link) about the Barangay Chairperson of Malubog in Cebu, Marjorita Cangmaong, fearing that her government-owned vehicle was haunted. It talked about her experience with the car making strange noises. She and others believed it was haunted because it used to be used by the former Barangay Chairperson of Mabini, Rey Oybenes, who committed suicide over a year ago. “What bothers me about this article is that it makes no motion to try to air a more scientific side of this. It’s possible that it’s a psychological fear, as people connected the car to the now deceased official. It’s also possible that it’s a totally fixable engine problem. It may also be neither of these. The thing is, however, the article makes no attempt to try to explore these possibilities, and instead ends with Chairperson Cangmaong saying that she is glad she is not bothered by the spirits anymore after having the car blessed. It seems to want to propagate the belief that these ghosts are real, which is an unethical media practice.” ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@
blog admin’s note: can you hear that…? (if your internet is of decent speed). No, it’s neither your imagination nor the stirrings of a perfectly baritone ghost — it’s the voice of James earl jones reading the iconic edgar allan poe piece “the raven” on podcast on auto play — you knew i had to include james earl jones because the previous post had benedict cumberbatch’s voice, didncha? (didn’t you?)
;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ By Kristine “Last October 26, 2014 an online article was posted on ABS-CBN News online regarding a suspected ghost sighting in Tondo Manila. In the article it was said that a white figure resembling a woman was caught on camera by one of the crew members of ‘Rated K’ during their shoot in Tondo Manila for their Halloween special. “Although it was stated in the article that it could have been “light that bounced off from the camera to the grills, resembling a ghostly figure of a woman” I still believe that the article is in violation of the KBP Code of ethics, which states that public affairs materials/ programs must not promote superstitious beliefs and that care should be taken on super natural events to prevent the exploitation of people who may be easily swayed to such ideologies. Here’s the link: abs-cbnnews.com/10/26/14/look-ghost-caught-rated-k-cam” ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@ ;@
News organizations that use ghouls & ghosts as news subjects: reviews by Maria Angelita, serendipity, papa smurf, cyrusfigueroa, kath turlao
(photo shot by Myra Lambino, this week’s pumpkin-carving party among friends in California)
Media Monitor No. 9 by Maria Angelita
“xxxOctober 26, 2014, Rated K aired their Halloween special entitled, “Rated Shocker”. It featured stories about the occult particularly ghost sightings, demon possessions, third-eyes, and the like. Though it is an entertaining episode, particularly for the horror fans, it is hardly something one could call a fair and accurate news magazine program episode.
“One such example is the first segment of the show which talked about a young boy who allegedly has the ability to see ghosts, demons, and “lost souls”. This ability is otherwise known as “having a third eye”. xxx lack of balanced reporting xxxfocused entirely on the magnificence of the boy’s “powers” by showing how he supposedly played with “dead people” without actually confirming the phenomenon with scientific experts. The only “experts” they got on the subject were a Catholic priest and a parapsychologist, hardly anyone that could give you a rational view of the situation. This is in violation of the KBP Broadcast Code of Ethics, Article 13 which states that a program featuring superstitious and pseudoscientific beliefs must not exploit people who could be easily swayed by such things. By showing one account after the other of the boy’s third-eye adventures without proper guidance of logical expertise, a simple-minded viewer might actually believe that such things actually matter.
“Another issue I have with the episode is the sensationalism of their re-enactments. It’s good that they’ve labeled their re-enactments as such but the images don’t have to be so gory. The ghosts were so bloodied up that it didn’t seem like they were writing for a news magazine program but more for a horror show.
“Of course, it is understandable that this episode in particular is a horror episode but the producers must not forget that their show is under the category of current affairs. They must not sacrifice the sanctity of balanced news for the sake of entertainment.”
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By serendipity
“xxxOctober 26, ABS-CBN News posted a video from Rated K about a white figure resembling a woman seen on cam during the shoot of a paranormal investigation in Tondo, Manila. According to the cameraman, Violan Pardo, he thought he saw the female ghost before he started to shoot.
“However, a videography expert explained that the image might be formed by lights bouncing off from the grills.
“The verification from the videography expert was important to lessen fright among the audience and to avoid inducing any superstitious belief.”
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By papa smurf
“On another episode of TV Patrol Pampanga, the news program covered a jeepney accident in Sta. Rita Pampanga where one of the passengers died and several others were hospitalized. The jeep hit a tree at one in the morning and the local police believe that the driver of the jeep fell asleep while he was driving. The segment then shifted its attention to the residents near the tree who claim that there is a woman who frequents the tree at night. According to one of the residents, there have already been past accidents at the same area where the accident happened. The report consulted with the usual paranormal expert and she claims that there is an angry woman that roams the area. She then adds that as All Saints Day comes closer, it is possible that more accident will occur.
“The issue with the episode is it induces belief in the supernatural. The episode goes through great lengths to connect an accident with the presence of a ghost who haunts the area. The reporter mentions that the accounts of the residents coincide with what the paranormal expert sees. Again, the program became more about entertainment rather than being deliverer of news. It is almost funny how the program spent more time covering the ghost story rather than the accident itself.
“According to the KBP, media practitioners must be careful in covering supernatural events. I think it is safe to assume that TV Patrol Pampanga does not agree with the KBP. This is the second time in two weeks that they featured ghost stories that are not news worthy in any way. The advice and the visions of the paranormal expert are very questionable and yet the program decides to consult with her anyway. TV Patrol Pampanga is guilty of prescribing pseudo-scientific beliefs. TV Patrol Pampanga must stop.”
“Umagang Kay Ganda did a segment about the historical Diplomat Hotel in Baguio City, but they focused about how it was haunted. They stated how a lot of people died in it during World War II, and that their souls are still inhabiting the hotel. They interviewed a student named Jhel, who claims that she saw ghosts in the windows. Chuck Tinte, the journalist, then mentions that the hotel was one of the most haunted places in the Philippines. The segment then moved to scenes when the news team brought a spirit medium into the hotel. She said that she saw several spirits, and there was also footage of her supposedly being possessed by the spirit of a soldier. All these were set to an eerie musical background. This can rattle the viewers and possibly make them believe in the occult. It’s not news, because there are no facts, only beliefs.
“Even though they interviewed a bishop who said not to believe in this, it was only a fraction of the segment. The occult details were given more priority, thus making it seem more important.
“This may also be seen as a mere stunt to get into the Halloween season, since there was no big event that happened at the Diplomat Hotel. It was more like a feature of a haunted place”
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Haunting (Weekly Media Monitor for October 22-28, 2014)
The link to the Oct. 26 episode of “Rated K” can be found here: http://www.iwantv.com.ph/TV/Video/Rated-K/24/58566
“xxxOctober 26, ABS-CBN aired an episode of “Rated K” (a weekly magazine program hosted by Korina Sanchez) which featured various stories about the occult and supposed paranormal events.
Being a magazine program, it is still expected of “Rated K” to be factual and objective in the stories they air. However, in one of the episode’s segments, a child was described to be in possession of the “sixth sense” (see above photo). What’s wrong is that the description makes it seem that the sixth sense does exist, and the segment itself fails to include the side of scientific experts. This is in violation of the KBP Broadcast Code of Ethics, which states that “programs featuring superstitions shall not induce belief in them”.
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By Kath Turlao
“On the morning show of ABS-CBN which is Umagang Kay Ganda, a story regarding an “amaranhid” was featured.
Even before, there is a belief in the Philippines regarding people who rose from death and by which, are termed as the “amaranhid” or “pinoy zombie.”
“According to the KBP Code of ethics, programs must not promote such beliefs and care should be taken to prevent the exploitation of people who may be easily swayed by such superstitious beliefs.
However,the story that the show featured was supporting that this superstition is actually true and that it happened in one of the barrios in our country.
