Grim Reaper strikes again; ‘Truthful’ news reporting

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

The past weeks, the Grim Reaper again reared its deadly scythe. Latest was Mountain Province Leonard Mayaen who died of a stroke Thursday. 

Dr. Esteban Piok, Benguet Provincial Board member also went to the Great Beyond. Then on Tuesday, retired Anglican Bishop Ignacio Soliba died at the age of 72. His remains lay in state at their home in Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga at press time. Weaving icon Leonarda Capuyan also went ahead two weeks earlier.  

Last Thursday, we also attended the burial of my aunt Consolacion Dizon Padilla who died at the age of 79.

Padilla was the sister of my father who also went ahead at the age of 69.

During the wake at the Baguio Memorial Chapel, I talked to some relatives I haven’t met since I was born. Turns out, my grandfather Nicolas from my father’s side, a full-blooded Kapampangan from Mexico, Pampanga was a ladies man during his youth.

Now I remember the glint and mischievousness in his eyes when I saw him during my younger days when I went to Baguio from Sagada for summer or Christmas vacations. He stayed in my auntie Cion’s house every time he came for a visit, He was a charmer. No wonder, women were drawn to him, but that is another story.

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What is “truthful” news reporting?” President Aquino posed questions to the media Thursday to underscore importance of “truthful” news reporting, especially with the coming elections and regional developments that help form public opinion.

He also delved on challenges faced by the print media in light of the popularity of social media. Aquino said truth, integrity and responsibility must not be compromised in the face of the apparent need for faster dissemination of information.

He criticized sensationalism and biased, speculative and inaccurate reporting as well as seeming lack of appetite for good news by media enterprises. 

Aurea Calica of the Philippine Star quoted him: “Media, and perhaps especially print media, have a special role to play before, during and after our elections – as it does at any critical time in even your own countries. We Filipinos will need a just, comprehensive accounting of this historic time, and you are in the best position to do that.”

Aquino said this during the Publish Asia 2016 opening ceremonies organized by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and attended by local and foreign journalists.

Aquino recalled 16 years ago, his mother, former president Corazon Aquino spoke in one of the major universities’ center for journalism in the country when she was no longer chief executive and referred to a hostage-taking incident in Mindanao.

She related how journalists seeking close contact with the hostages and hostage-takers, or seeking a scoop, likewise became captives, with their watches, laptops and shoes taken from them.

“After narrating that incident, my mother posed a number of questions which, I believe, remain relevant not only in that particular context, or to Filipino reporters, but to each and every member of the industry today and in the years to come. Allow me to repeat some of those questions now: are the reporters telling what they see or what they think readers will pay to read? Do they understand what they see? Are they talking to the right people, or are they just retailing propaganda?” Aquino noted.

The President said his mother was simply questioning the journalists’ dedication to the two most important values of the profession, namely integrity and truth.

“Your dedication to these two values is especially important in light of your expansion to new media technologies, which are the crux of your discussion today,” Aquino said.

“We all know that there has been a great shift away from the primacy of print to a 24/7 news cycle, where it only takes a single Tweet to break news – where anyone can report on anything, at any time, and have it reach anywhere in the world. These new forms of media challenge what print, at its best, is supposed to represent: depth and breadth, context and a clear delineation between opinion and news,” he said.

Aquino said the job of the media had become more complicated because of the need to expand to new media forms, which have their own limitations in terms of dissemination.

“At the same time, dissemination does not matter so much as the most basic responsibility, which is to deliver information – information that the people can trust, can lead to fruitful discussions on issues of national and global importance, that can even lead to positive transformation. This is the value and the service that you must provide,” Aquino said.

He said when the distinction between opinion and straightforward news gets blurred, the journalism profession is endangered.

“This is not only a matter of principle, it is also about practicality. Sensational headlines and articles composed of controversial rumors, for example, might increase your circulation… What happens, however, when the people notice your tendency towards such, when they realize that your articles are entertaining, perhaps, but cannot be verified and consequently trusted?”

 “In the long run, will they not seek alternative sources of information — sources that they know will tell them the truth?” the President said.

Aquino said this coming election, candidates vying for the highest posts were trying to win the people’s trust in a variety of ways: from promises, to attempts to smear mud on the names of their rivals; from presentations of their records of service, to curses and strong language.

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The Youth Do Change urged all candidates to sign a manifesto to end the Bank Secrecy Law and create more transparency in government service.

The YDC made the move as the tandem of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and his running mate, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano prepared and signed a manifesto which waives their right to bank secrecy.

Some of the members wore masks of the other candidates who have yet to sign the manifesto. To date, only Duterte and Cayetano have signed the manifesto.

"Patuloy po akong maniniwala na may pag-asa pa para sa ating bayan, pag-asa na magbibigay ng patas na pagkakataon sa lahat, pag-asa na magbibigay ng pagpapahalaga sa karapatan ng bawat  mamamayan mahirap man o mayaman, pag-asa na magkakaroon tayo ng tapat na gobyerno, pag-asa na nakikita namin na ibibigay sa amin ng Duterte-Cayetano," said Patrick Plandiano, spokesperson of Youth Do Change (YDC). 

This support is also evident among students, as the tandem's rivals reportedly trailed behind them in mock polls. In the student poll conducted on March 9 in Siliman University, Duterte garnered 55.86% of the votes, while Cayetano garnered 38.02%. Meanwhile, on March 10, in Misamis University, Duterte and Cayetano garnered 70% and 32% of the votes, respectively. 

As part of their “comprehensive platform of government” that aims to end corruption, the tandem proposed the lifting of the provision of bank secrecy for public officials. They believe that by ending corruption through bold solutions and swift action, they can also end the disorder in the country.