(excerpted, quoted verbatim; unedited: grammatical errors have not been corrected. For substance, the authors got points except as otherwise stated under “notes” for the student.)
(blog admin’s note on the first post below, same caveat as the previous one: There is a continuing debate on whether or not children or minors who have been killed should be named in news stories, being news subjects. Some news editors argue that since they are deceased, the restraint should be relaxed. That debate has not been resolved)
(blog admin’s note on the fifth post: There is a continuing debate on whether subjects of rape-murders could be named. Some news editors argue that since they are deceased, the restraint should be relaxed. I don’t agree with this – but there it is.)
Media monitor by domguamos.wordpress
“What happened with the four students of Bulacan State University (BSU) last August 20 was all over the news. As a matter of fact, three biggest news stations, GMA News, ABS-CBN News and News 5 had their own version of news coverage. With all that version, there is this one thing I noticed. All these stations revealed the students name. Based on the Philippine Press Institute Code of Ethics Article No. 8 which clearly states that one should exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in the society. This case may not be a criminal rather a tragedy one but stating the victims’ name can still affect not only their reputation as well as their families. Not only the Code of Ethics has been violated but also rules implemented by the Commission on Higher Education.
“An alternative I can suggest is that they should have focus more on what really happened during the accident, the negligence in the part of the BSU officials as well as the tour guides during the field trip. As the news progresses each day, the three stations have included those information regarding what really went wrong in the field trip which in my opinion should have been on the first part of the story.
***********
By czarlinelene.wordpress
“Just this Sunday, Rappler released an article with the headline ‘Pinoy Archer Moreno wins Philippines first ever Olympic gold.’ At first glance, the subconscious mind would immediately establish that the Olympic indicated here is the Olympic main event that occurs during the summer and winter seasons of the year. It could have been a call for a nationwide, huge celebration, but this was not the case. As the headline gradually registers in the mind, the reality of the news report sinks in: it is not Olympic season yet so what is that clamor all about? It turns out, the Filipino archer clinched the medal in the Youth Olympic Games, a variation of the Olympic Games itself.
“Whether the writer used it to attract the readers or it was an honest mistake, it violates the first in the Code of Ethics: I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly. The headline was a bit ambiguous, if not misleading. The fundamentals of newswriting teaches us that the headline must contain accurately the message of the article. In this case, there was improper emphasis on the specifics of the victory of the child, which led to the subtle distortion of the truth.”
************
Media Monitor (Aug 20-26) by Darien at darienbas.wordpress
“Tragedy struck on the 20th of August when news broke that seven students of the Bulacan State University perished in an unfortunate drowning accident during a field trip to Biak-na-Bato national park.
“….news channels … nonchalantly named the victims despite the fact that the people involved were minors.
“Under the Philippine Press Institute Code of Ethics Article number 8, sensitivity and caution has to be exercised when dealing with issues concerning women and minors and with the three major television networks in the country (ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5) naming the deceased, it is possible that the focus can be diverted from the story to the people affected, namely their families which can have a huge psychological effect and I highly doubt there was the consent of the families affected when they aired the names.
“Media practitioners should remember to uphold the Code of Ethics and also a degree of professionalism especially when covering sensitive issues like this one because in this case, it was the story that mattered, not the names of those involved.
“Whether the writer used it to attract the readers or it was an honest mistake, it violates the first in the Code of Ethics: I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly. The headline was a bit ambiguous, if not misleading. The fundamentals of newswriting teaches us that the headline must contain accurately the message of the article. In this case, there was improper emphasis on the specifics of the victory of the child, which led to the subtle distortion of the truth.”
*******
Media Monitor by kristina rivera
“One of the trends on the internet today is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. One of the first celebrities to do it in the Philippines is Kris Aquino. On her show “Aquino and Abunda” last night (Aug. 25), they aired a short video of other celebrities doing the challenge. Although Kris explained the good cause behind the challenge it seemed more like she was just advertising herself and her good will more than the actual cause. Although Kris may have raised awareness about ALS and the charity, the video seemed like it was highlighting Kris more than anything because at the end they focused on her and even said something along the lines of “and the celebrity who made it all happen” (referring to Kris). I just got the impression that it was more about Kris advertising herself and getting on board the trend than helping out the charity.
“This way of presenting the facts may affect its credibility because it raises the question of whether she was doing it to help the cause or promote herself.
*************
(Note for the student. Dear “wonderstruckwriter”: This example came from me and was discussed extensively in class last week – pls confer with your classmates. The purpose of the weekly media monitor exercise is to contribute in helping the students develop the habit of reading/ viewing the news with a critical eye. The goal would not be met if students are allowed to simply grab case studies taken up in class and pass them off as their own as their own media monitor. You may submit another one as a second chance, in addition to next week’s post, but with deductions, to be fair to your classmates. Also, as a suggestion: if your position is that the name of the subject of the rape-murder should not be disclosed, perhaps it would be good to refrain from disclosing the name in your own published post).
Media Monitor August 20-26, 2014 By Student wonderstruckwriter
“Rape cases are very sensitive topics to report on. It is because there is the involvement of physical, emotional and mental trauma to the victims and to their families. And although there is the need to report the truth of these matters, the Journalist’s Code of Ethics stated a provision on limiting the information a journalist can write about minors and women involved in criminal cases.
“For this week, A——— (name disclosed by GMA7 News & by student wonderstruckwriter, concealed by blog admin) case has been very present in the media. She became widely known as the 26-year-old victim of the rape-slay case in Calumpit, Bulacan. Causes both online and offline were established in her name (e.g. Justice for A——- ( name disclosed by GMA7 News & by student wonderstruckwriter, concealed by blog admin ) Facebook page, Call to revive death penalty), and stories about her life also emerged on the internet.
“However, I have reservations on how the media has reported on this matter. This reservation stems from the Journalist Code of Ethics provision: “I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.”
“The provision clearly states what it meant to say, however, it failed to provide a case to when it should be practiced or not. Apparently, this matter is a long-running debate to whether the press have the right to publish rape case victims’ names after death. In practice, though, media practitioners have already settled the matter—if the family has given their consent, then it’s fine.
“Let us examine this one by one. First, the provision’s reason for cautioning the press to publish names of these victims is clear as day—so as they would not ‘unjustly lose their standing in society.’ As I was reading opinions about this on the internet, many surviving rape victims were actually threatened by their peers, ostracized by the people. So I thought maybe this was what the provision was talking about. But does a “standing in society” apply only for living people? Don’t the dead get to have a “standing in society”, more specifically, a legacy?
“Second, as I have mentioned earlier, a family’s consent is the only thing needed for disclosing a rape victim’s name on reports. Regarding this matter, I tried to consider possible reasons to why it is considered ethical to do so. I think that the main reason is because a dead rape victim’s standing in society is reflected by her family, upon disclosure. Personally, when a rape victim’s name appears on the report, I immediately think of the family, and how that certain family recuperates from the tragedy. But to what extent does family have on this matter?
“Third, A——s case (name disclosed by GMA7 News & by student wonderstruckwriter, concealed by blog admin ) did not become a buried case—it actually ignited people’s feelings to address this effectively and even evolving it to become a proof that death penalty should be revived. I am devastated by the fate she suffered, but at least she did not die in vain. Was this because she was named and not one of the other faceless and nameless rape case victims reported? In my opinion, I think that there is something really wrong on how we treat these matters. News has projected a negative image on the ordinary Filipino, and reading about it seems “normal”. But regardless of A ———— (name disclosed by GMA7 News & by student wonderstruckwriter, concealed by blog admin) having been named by the media, shouldn’t the government exert extra effort in implementing its laws and strengthening the justice system?
“My point is, why do the media have to name rape case victims? What significant difference does it make? I think that reporting on the event itself is fine just as it is, or describing the victim is fine just as it is. I believe that a dead victim’s standing in society extends even after death. I believe that not naming a rape victim even after death, is called respect.
“Right now, A———- ( name disclosed by GMA7 News & by student wonderstruckwriter, concealed by blog admin) is making headlines. But she will always be remembered as the 26-year-old rape-slay case victim from Calumpit, Bulacan.”
FIRST OF FOUR PARTS (excerpted, quoted verbatim, unedited: grammatical and idiomatic errors have not been corrected)
For substance, the authors got points except as otherwise stated under “notes” for the student.
(blog admin’s note on the fifth post here: There is a continuing debate as to whether or not children who have been killed should be named in news stories as news subjects. Some news editors argue that since they are deceased, the restraint should be relaxed. i disagree with this – but there it is. This debate has not been resolved.)
*******
The Derailing of the Public by Student mediamonitor2014.wordpress On the article: “MRT train crashes through barrier” from The Philippine Star: “… journalists viewed the story in a macro-level perspective. They were agreeable in giving out facts that support their claims, however they were not able to gather the story in a more “humanly experience” by interviewing passengers or witnesses. In another level, journalists are supposed to “give voice to the voiceless”, in this case, the victims of the incident. In the context of truthfulness, the concept of triangulation is vital to be able to satisfy the contents of the news report. Being able to conduct triangulation involves all the sides of the story to be able to achieve a sound and unbiased report of details. Thus, in this example, we also see the violation of the first policy in The Philippine Journalist’s Code of Ethics which states that “…I recognize the duty to air the other side,” something the news lacked. They featured a lot of important stakeholders such as government officials and DOTC representatives that are strong voices to the issue, but its strongest hold would be the inclusion of what those who experienced it may think. What did the passengers feel? How do they see Philippine transportation after this incident has happened? xxx” ******* Media Monitor by Angel or mannequinreverie “… Philippine Daily Inquirer: I found two articles that devoted themselves to the purpose of airing all sides to a conflict. The issue was between Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and the Makati City government; the former accused the latter of being more corrupt than those involved in the P10-billion pork barrel scam. An issue like this can easily blow up in a sense that one side can be highlighted more than the other thereby leading to unnecessary biases. “… they made sure to air all sides of the conflict by laying down the arguments of each side and therefore allowing the readers to decide for themselves. They’ve accommodated Sen. Trillanes’ allegations in the article, “Trillanes: Scam in Makati bigger than pork theft”. But they didn’t stop there. They made sure to seek out the Makati City government to respond to those allegations; they’ve featured their side in the article, “Makati gov’t to Triplanes: What corruption?” By placing these articles together, the Inquirer managed to present the issue objectively, air all sides equally, and give the readers a platform to weigh each side critically.xxx” ********
Weekly Media Monitor (Aug. 20-26) by gianco in giancoante.wordpress Article: lifestyle.inquirer.holdup-gangs-still-on-the-loose-in-makatis-chino-roces-avenue “According to the preamble of the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, it is the duty of a journalist to seek the truth and to provide a “fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.” This is the primary duty of a journalist that is, unfortunately, not always carried out in the media. “ “These are dangerous times to be working or living in the vicinity of Makati’s Chino Roces Avenue…” “The article starts out with this sensationalized statement about Chino Roces Avenue. It is the job of a journalist to objectively present the truth–not to strike fear into the hearts of the people with a hasty generalization. “ “In recent weeks, the situation has become too prevalent and so close to home, with at least four Inquirer employees being held up on different occasions.” “The example above was taken from the third paragraph of the article. The article fails to give a detailed account of the holdups. There are no specific dates and times–only the phrase “recent weeks”. The use of the phrases “at least” and “different occasions” shows that the journalist is even unsure of the facts. Another thing to note is that the journalist reports that the victims were Inquirer employees. What about the other victims in the area who aren’t Inquirer employees? Would this article have been written even if the victims aren’t Inquirer employees? A journalist should avoid media bias and give voice to the voiceless. “ “What adds insult to injury is that the cops seem helpless, if not oblivious, to the crimes…” “The opening line of the fourth paragraph shows another hasty generalization. The journalist does not provide evidence to support his/her claim. “ “one of the police officers was said to have commented that they lack manpower and that the criminals know what areas to avoid.” “The journalist failed to identify the police officer from whom he/she got the information. A journalist should identify sources whenever feasible because the public is entitled to know the reliability of the sources. “The article is written almost like a personal rant. There are no specific dates and times for each occurrence of the holdups. The victims are all identified as Inquirer employees, showing possible media bias. The sources are not identified and there is no evidence to support the journalist’s claim of police incompetence. Worst of all, hasty generalizations abound. The article is proof that there are journalists out there in the mainstream that cannot even carry out the most basic of duties: to provide a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.” ************ Media Monitor by By Shain Bianca “(On) 92.3 Aksyon Radyo Singko… show, hosted by Martin Andanar and Erwin Tulfo, Punto Asintado ….which focus on news, tackled the arrest of a drug dealer in Quezon City. xxx “On the flip side, Mr. Tulfo and Mr. Andanar focused more on the slapping incident that the former said that slapping the drug dealer was not enough. According to him, if he were there, he would do more than that. He would get the gun of the police beside him and inflict serious harm on the person. For me, that was totally uncalled for. According to Journalist Code of Ethics, “I shall conduct myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should be my watchword.” In my opinion, Mr. Tulfo used his job as a broadcast journalist to air those words. He should have acted with greater caution because children listening might think that it is okay to hurt or kill someone because that person did something bad. (I was with a little kid when I was listening to them and he asked if it’s okay to do that). Even if what the drug dealer did was wrong, it is not the job of the broadcast journalist to say such words or do such things. We should let the justice system do its job instead.xxx xxx . QC Mayor Herbert Bautista … slapped him (the suspect) because of his rude behavior. The two shows labeled the drug dealer as Chinese, which clearly did not have anything to do with his monkey business. On a side note, even TV news programs labeled him Chinese. As I see it, it violated the provision in the Journalist Code of Ethics that says, “I shall not, in any manner, ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.” We do not label Filipino drug dealers or users as “Filipino drug users/ dealers.” In our discussion, it was said that ethnicity or origin may be placed towards within the report so as to provide additional information but not to the extent that it becomes part of the headline. But what newspapers, TV programs, and radio programs did was they headlined his being Chinese.xxx”
************
(Note for the post below: Dear Student serendipity: As discussed in class, names of minors involved in crimes, whether as suspects or complainants, should be concealed; likewise, the real names of individuals who are complainants/subjects of rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, etc., should also be not disclosed; but in all other cases, generally, adult suspects/accused should be identified in news stories, otherwise the crime report would be incomplete, vague, and abstract (unless there is a compelling reason not to name them).
The case studies discussed in class for “minimizing harm” and not destroying an individual’s reputation unless warranted, involved stories based on blanket accusations published as news stories without any basis whatsoever, or without the news organization having verified the accusation (independent ways of verification were taken up in class when i discussed whistleblowers’ stories — pls confer with your classmates). The nature of crime reports would have been taken up in your J101: that is, an investigation report by the police verified by the reporter can be the basis of a news story taking into consideration all the standards of journalism (being balanced, factual, etc.).
This post does not get any points but since you may not have yet taken up J101, I will allow you to submit another one, with deductions, to be fair to your classmates, in addition to next week’s media monitor — but only for this time).
By serendipity 2012- 15827 “xxx An August 25, 2014 article from Manila Bulletin (mb.com.ph3-arrested-p75m-shabu-seized-in-buy-bust) about a buy-bust operation in Quezon City caught my attention. In the article, the author indicated the names of the three suspects as well as their age, occupation, and home addresses. In my opinion, there is no need to include such information as it was an intrusion into the individuals’ privacy. “Also, I think that the information provided was not relevant to the execution of the crime. Therefore, it may be considered a violation against the rights of the three named suspects.
“As media practitioners, we must be extra careful in handling and disclosing information to the public. ********
The deadline is Sept. 2 at 5pm. Posts submitted after 5pm of Tuesday will no longer be considered as a second post but will be credited under the Sept.3-8 media monitor. The results of last week’s media monitor will be posted today, in four parts, entitled as follows:
“Students’ Critique of Phil Star, Inquirer, Tulfo & Andanar” (first of four parts) – Abangan! in two minutes
“Students’ Critique of ABS-CBN, GMA7 News, News Aksyon 5, Rappler, Kris Aquino” (second of four parts) – Abangan! mayamaya
“Students’ critique of Inquirer, ABS-CBN, GMA7, yugatech site” (3rd of four parts) – Abangan! Malapit na.
“Students’ Critique of TV Patrol, n5e.interaksyon, ANC, Jiggy Manicad, Tinig” (4th of four parts) – Abangan!
Authors got the full points except as otherwise stated under “notes” for the student.
This week’s media monitor can be posted in the comments box below by clicking the “comment” prompt below the “like” box, below the date; or below the related posts if you opened your window to this post itself. Please submit them either as inline text or as links to your platforms where the commentary is posted.(you may also email them). Happy viewing and reading!
