Text-invite from Likha: “Join us tomorrow at our French buffet 11am-2pm & 5pm-8pm. We have Ratatouille, pasta with shrimp, apple cake, tuna with almonds, tomato salad, cauliflower gratin, and many more!”
“Commentary 3 (1 July 2013): World Bulletin jumps the gun on Japanase MOFA article regarding Philippine visa requirements
By TDP “Last 27 June (Thursday), netizens were abuzz on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites about a report issued by World Bulletin online stating that effective July 1, the Japanese Embassy is lifting visas for Filipinos wishing to travel to Japan on short-term visits (ABS-CBN, 2013). The report went viral in a matter of hours.
“However, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that contrary to the report circulating, it will be relaxing, not lifting, visa requirements for Filipinos visiting Japan for 15 days or less. Specifically: “In celebration of the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the Government of Japan has decided to begin issuance from July 1, of multiple entry visas for short-term stay to nationals of the Republic of the Philippines (ordinary passport holders), who reside in their home country” (J-MOFA, 2013). ABS-CBN was the first local media group to clarify the mix-up, through an article published less than an hour after the World Bulletin report was issued.
“As per Section III, Number 1 of the Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct’ of the Philippine Press Institute, “all efforts must be exerted to make stories fair, accurate, and balanced” (p. 117). On one end of the spectrum, evidently, the World Bulletin practiced poor, shoddy journalism when it failed to verify the facts, and thusly misinterpreted the report issued by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Especially in the age of digital technology where information is spread rapidly within seconds, journalists should take great lengths in making sure that all pieces of information are accurate, so as to avoid the misinformation of the general public.
“On the other end of the spectrum, it may be argued that ABS-CBN practiced responsible journalism when it swiftly squelched the inaccurate report going viral, by releasing an article online to clarify the issue. Further, the news group contextualized the situation, by alluding to the previous World Bulletin report, and then positioning the article as an erratum to avoid further confusion.”
On the article: ph.news.yahoo.com/dolphin-dies-china-tourist-abuse
“The article is about a photo of Chinese tourists posing with a dying dolphin. It caused the outrage of China’s Twitter-like social media service, Sina Weibo.
“Under the Journalist’s Code of Ethics, a journalist “shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts or to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis.” The article focuses on the outrage of the Sina Weibo users over the aforesaid photo. It appears that the adverse reactions of the users were intentionally emphasized to influence the judgment of the readers. The picture does not really show much about the condition of the dolphin during the time when it was photographed; if nobody knew the story published by Shanghai Daily, nobody would even suspect that the dolphin was dying and no online outrage would occur.
“Furthermore, he/she “shall recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.” The author should have exerted more effort in ascertaining the truth behind the story. Essential facts should not be suppressed; accordingly, any journalist should avoid suppressing facts, whether intentionally or unintentionally, because it would tend to favor one side. The intention of the writer to raise the issue of non-endangered animal rights is clear at the last part of the article. It is written that, “China, which has a growing animal rights movement, does not currently have any laws to protect non-endangered animals.” The intention of the writer was good, but he failed to exercise fairness. No matter how good one’s intention is, he/she is never exempted to comply with legal and ethical standards. It would be much better if he was able to get the side of those who appeared in the picture. Just like the dolphin, they also have rights which should be protected.” Posted by Andrea Lou H. Magnaye
