students review Phil Star, Rappler, Inquirer (results, 4th media monitor, 1st of 4)

by giancoante Sep. 15, 2014 on philstar.com/headlines/2014/09/15/chinese-nationals-p7-b-drug-raid-charged

“The media have the power to create, reinforce, and promote certain stereotypes. According to the PPI Code of Ethics, journalists must be careful to avoid stereotyping of any nature.

“The headline of the article reads “4 Chinese Nationals in P7-B drug raid charged.” Was it really necessary for the journalist to specify in the headline that the drug dealers were Chinese? Even without specifying that the drug dealers were Chinese, the headline would still be effective. Instead, this info could be included in the article itself rather than in the headline.

“ “A Parañaque court, meanwhile, sentenced three Chinese nationals last month to life imprisonment after they were caught inside a shabu laboratory in 2010.”

“The writer adds this statement near the end of the article referring to another story that also involved Chinese drug dealers.

“ “Twelve Chinese fishermen were also convicted last August by a Palawan court and sentenced to six to 12 years in jail for poaching after their vessel was stranded in Tubbataha Reef.”

“This was the last statement in the article. The focus is no longer about drug dealers, but solely on Chinese nationals. This statement is problematic because it perpetuates the stereotype of the Chinese as lawbreakers. A journalist must, at all costs, avoid stereotyping by race and ethnicity. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case in this article.

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By serendipity: “xxx avoiding discrimination by gender, age, race and religion.xxx As much as possible, journalists must not address their news subjects based on their religion especially when their membership has nothing to do with the issue at hand. A September 12 article from Rappler entitled “China Warns citizens to avoid the Philippines”, the author used the phrase “Muslim rebels” in relating the kidnapping of an 18- year old Chinese man on Thursday with the crimes committed by the said group. This practice is contrary to what Code of Ethics teaches.

       “On the other hand, it is right to commend the author’s attempt to present the opposing sides of the conflict- that of the Chinese and Philippine government.

       “On: rappler.com/nation/china-warns-citizens-avoid-philippines”

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By cyrusfigueroa on: philstar.com/metro/2014/09/04/enzos-widow-now-malaysia

“The Philippine Star published an article about the widow of slain racer Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor allegedly fleeing to Malaysia. The journalist, Reinir Padua, reports on Dalia Guerrero Pastor’s attempt to avoid jurisdiction of the Philippine government by spending P8 million on a chartered plane under Lion Air to fly her from Luzon to Tawi-Tawi, and then from there, she took a speed boat to Malaysia. What was unethical about this was that the journalist depended on only one source for all this information, and an anonymous one at that. Though the source’s life or job might have been at stake, there was no description to establish the credibility of the source.

         “Another violation Padua made was the lack of official documents to back up the statement of The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). The CAAP denied the reports, even saying that they “double-checked the flight manifest of Lion Air,” and saying that Lion Air only has flights from Manila to Naga or Cauayan, Isabela. The CAAP may be a national governing body, but the source may be polluted.

        “According The Philippine Press Institute Expanded Code of EthicsL Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct: “We must strive at all times to ascertain the truth of our sources’ assertions.” “

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By Pauline Celerio on philstar.com/2014-09-15/alleged-mnlf-rebel-falls/71858

xxx “xxxThe journalist who wrote the story treated Haylol Sakinal, the arrested suspect, with respect while not giving up the right of the public to know of his circumstance. He did not brand Sakinal as a “criminal” right away, and put “alleged” to protect his right to a fair trial. Xxx”

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By naomicristell94, on: inquirer.net/637015/cop-hulidap-mastermind-a-multimillionaire

      “The news article was about the suspects for the “hulidap” incident that happened along EDSA. First, it focused on a background and lifestyle check of the police who are suspects of the case. According to the Philippine Press Institute Expanded Code of Ethics: Code of Professional and Ethical conduct documents are required when stories involve the alleged corruption or a wrongdoing of a public official or agencies or publicly accountable agencies.

         “In this news story, police officers are suspects to a crime of robbery in which case it is being tied up to the increase in their money and properties. An investigation of this was done by checking their data sheets, their declared assets at the QCPD human resources division. Second part of the news article involved a cross-checking of the photo and the suspects based on the statement of De Vera as well as identifying Villanueva as the mastermind based on both statements of De Vera and Rodriguez.

       “This news article used documents as sources for the lifestyle and background check as well as noting two statements noting Villanueva as the mastermind.”

               (first of four parts, results of the fourth media monitor)