On News Coverage

Journalism Prof. Danilo Arao, when asked...

There is an issue about the extent of the coverage of news programs. How much is enough? How much is too much?

• Meaningful coverage is defined by neither time nor space. It is defined along the lines of relevance of disseminated information to the people's everyday lives and how information can be used to enlighten them and hopefully entice them to act.

What differentiates a news item from being informative and credible to being sensationalized or only for infotainment function?

• One only needs to know the professional and ethical standards to differentiate between the relevant and the mundane. What is basic in making journalistic outputs informative and credible are, among others, objectivity, accuracy and fairness.

Haiku

Military’s Information Warfare

Virus infiltrates
With paralyzing effect
Like nuclear strike

News Media’s Information Warfare

Info A brawls B?

To where shall my blood be spilled?

So, where should I stand?

Information Warfare

INFORMATION WARFARE refers to the use of information or information technology during a time of crisis or conflict to achieve or promote specific objectives over a specific adversary or adversaries.*

In military:

• A form of conflict in which the objective is to capture, degrade, or destroy the enemy's means of gathering, analyzing, and distributing data, particularly data regarding the enemy's armed forces.
• To achieve information dominance
• Electronic messages and ‘viruses’ are introduced into the enemy's computers, either to disable them or to plant false information, either through existing communication lines or, in future, by lasers or other electromagnetic transmissions
• Three forms: physical attack (bombing against an information system); a computer-based attack (disabling an aircraft's controls) or an information attack from one information system against another—proper cyberwar

In the news media:

• IW at a time of crisis is no different from propaganda war.
• Given that the Philippines is said to be in a chronic crisis, we witness this information warfare as we read, watch and listen to the news, especially in government-owned and sequestered broadcast networks where pro-government propaganda is euphemistically called "public information."**

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* Princeton University's WordNet (http://wordnet.princeton.edu)
**UP Prof. Danilo Arao via e-mail correspondence

Journalism and the Social Reality

Part II

Since we know that news reporters are limited with their scheduled time to submit their stories,it goes to show that they may not cover the entire truth.Does it not defeat the purpose of Journalism?

"Journalism is NOT about giving ALL information to people, as it only seeks to provide the meaningful ones that can help shape public opinion. The defined professional and ethical standards of the profession guide journalists on how to go about their jobs. The different forms of mass media do not and cannot mirror social reality as they are inherently limited by various factors like time and space constraints."

- Journalism Professor Danilo Arao

__________
Live reports should be grounded on real facts and views.
The veracity of a news story flags the credibility of the journalist.
Abhor infotainment journalism and promote the kind of journalism that will help
the public perform its citizen-critic duty.

Broadcast News vs. Reality TV

Are broadcast news considered as reality TV
since it covers real events as they happen?

"Reality TV is a misnomer since real-time broadcast can only be achieved through live feed. So-called reality TV shows like "Survivor" (the one that started the trend) and our very own "Pinoy Big Brother" are called that because certain individuals agree to take part in social experiments wherein cameras will record their every move. Gatekeeping, however, is still observed as raw footage are edited for better presentation of the narrative. In this context, broadcast news as a whole is not considered reality TV but there are segments of it that depict reality in "real time" through the live feed of unfolding events."
- Prof. Danilo Arao via e-mail correspondence
*Prof. Danilo Arao belongs to the Department of Journalism, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman.

__________
When the anchor tells the name of the correspondent followed by the buzzword "LIVE", there are two possible events that can happen:

1. Broadcasting of current situation at a certain area of coverage, at a "particular air-time."
For example, the live coverage of the President's SONA at exactly 4pm.

This LIVE coverage does not require journalist's skill to polish a story set for a better narrative. Rather, this requires field correspondents to be: (1) keen, alert observers and (2) articulate communicators. This is for the fact that sudden changes can immediately happen during the live feed. However, responsible journalists prior to their call may: (1) establish an estimate for crowd bearing situations (2) have listed the proper names of public persons involved in an affair of "national interest" (3) other important points/ information (essential to be addressed) at that particular moment.

In essence, these situations call for impromptu and the pressure of telling the story accurately, without exaggeration.

2. The broadcast of stories delivered by field correspondents but with "prepared video clips." For example, the long period of investigation of Hello Garci scandal in a session at the Senate, which started from 10 am without an assured dismissal time.

In contrast, this allows journalist's intervention to tell the story significantly. With the advent of new media, current media outfits have engaged themselves to variety of choices which in turn calls for good narrations -- fast and effective. Included in the choices are soundbites and package. Soundbites may be a cut from a long speech or an interview with authority or even the average man on the street. A package refers to an edited set of video clips for a news story common on television newscast narrated usually by a reporter. It is a story with audio, video, graphics and syntax. In essence, this kind deliberately shows what had happened in the past hours using the edited video clips. The role of the reporters in live events like this becomes less intricate, as they are to tell only the latest happening up to that certain moment of call to report.

To be continued.

VERSUS

Responsible Journalism:

accurate information; sides with the Truth, sides with the people
balance of good and bad news stories, reporting all sides of the Truth
public's right to information, transparency over secrecy
information-rich society, ethics before the practice
developmental, veracity, prudence

5Wh and H:
Who, What, Where, When, Why and How

-- VERSUS --

The Other Side
(abused, irresponsible, backward):

added/ tailored information, sides with the Truth of "Mr. Solon", sides with the few
full blow of good news and press releases to advance their interests
journalist's right to be paid for a well crafted story (checkbook journalism)
Truth coming from their respective camps, secrecy over transparency
misinformation-rich society, practice disregarding the ethics
defamation/libel, sensationalized
envelopmental, raw

5Wh and 2H:
Who, What, Where, When, Why, How,
How Much?

The Culture of Impunity

SUSPECTS? : Without Punishment
*According to the lecture given by Malou Mangahas of PCIJ

- Weak rule of law
- Effete judicial system
- Poor police investigation
- Few and frightened witnesses
- Inadequate funds to file suit and prosecute
- Indifference, denial to take actions by the authorities
- Inadequate public outrage

On the Cartoon: BASRA, Iraq — An American freelance journalist, who accused Basra's police of being infiltrated by Shiite militiamen in a recent New York Times column and his Internet blog, was found shot to death in the southern city after being abducted by armed men driving a police car. (From Cox and Forkum Editorial Cartoons)

Concerns of the Philippine News Media

According to the situationer given by Ms. Malou Mangahas, editor-in-chief of the official portal of GMA News and Public Affairs, Philippine journalism and its members had suffered and are still suffering various state oppressions. They believe that freedom of expression and of the press are the fundamental freedoms in the Philippines. Without these, other freedoms cannot be carried out.

Press freedom is a cornerstone of the Philippine democratic system. Article III, Sections 4 and 7 are the complimentary laws engaging press freedom and people's access to information of national interest. The Philippines is a signatory to different Universal Declarations and Agreements that bolster information over secrecy, in a supposed information-rich society.

The concerns of the Media:

• Access to information (and trail of blood)
• Media repressions: acute and benign
  
• Human Rights
  
• Good Government
  
• Peace and Conflict

Journalistic Killings

Aquino: 17
Ramos: 15
Erap : 5
PGMA: 62

NUJP (National Union of Journalists in the Philippines) and PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism) tally: 99 cases, 77 of which were killed in line of duty.

The forum was held at the Little Theater of UPM, yesterday, hosted by the university's press community, Manila Collegian.

Blanko

Matagal-tagal ding nabakante ang pahina. Walang anumang bahid ng intensyong sumulat. Malinis at nag-aabang na malapatan ang espasyong sanay sa paggulong ng tinta.

Sa kung anong dako ng daigdig lilingapin ang diwa ay hindi suliranin para sa sumusulat. Sa napakaraming bagay na maaring maging batis ng isusulat, kulang ang panahong ilalagak para rito. Napakaraming paraan ng pagsusulat. Sa dami nito, nagiging diskusyon pa rin hanggang sa ngayon ang tono ng pagsusulat -- ano nga ba ang mas epektibong daloy, ang conversational o yung parang sa thesis? Nagpabagu-bago ang anyo at porma ng pagsulat sa pagdaan ng siglo. Nakabuo ng konsepto upang ilarawan ang paraan ng pagsusulat ni Bob Ong. Gayundin kay Shakespeare, Karl Marx, Adam Smith at iba pang manunulat na naging impluwensyal sa paghubog ng mga ideya. Iba rin ang istilo ni Lualhati Bautista. Iba naman ang kay atake ni Ricky Lee. Iba rin ang kay Topel Lee. Iba iba relatibo sa panahon, estado, paraan ng pagsulat at karanasan ng manunulat. Sari-buhay, ika nga.

Sa genre nagkakaiba. Nangungusap ang bawat bitaw ng linya sa preface ng libro. Isang isyu rin para sa mga intelektwal na miyembro ng akademya ang paggamit ng mga salita na nararapat gamitin sa publikasyon. Isyu rin ang uri ng kulturang ipinapalaganap ng mga libro. Sumikat ang Harry Potter series ni J.K. Rowling at patuloy na pumapasok ang interes nito sa henerasyon ni Totoy at Nene. Kinagat pa rin ng publiko ang Twilight Saga. Naging maugong ang seryeng pinauso ni Bob Ong at kumalat pa sa mga text message. Isinapelikula ang natatanging gawa ni Lualhati Bautista na may timplang pamilya at lipunan. Naging tanyag sa pinilakang tabing ang mga iskrip ni Ricky Lee. Hinangaan ang mga storyline ni Topel Lee sa mga pelikulang may temang Pinoy at iba pang lipi.

Sino ang makapagsasabi ng dapat mong isulat o hindi? Sino ang nagsabi na dapat ay mas maikli ang pagkakalahad ng pangungusap mo sa Chapter 2 ng iyong isinusulat? Sino ang nagsabi na mas maganda ang salitang naisip niya para palitan ang iyong ginamit sa ikalawang pangungusap ng talata mo? Sino ang nagsabing mas magandang pakinggan ang "nakaiinis" o "nakakainis"? Sa lahat ng diskusyong ito, namumutawi ang iisang argumento -- kung ano ang nararapat isulat o hindi, ngunit sino pa rin ang magtatakda? Sino ang dapat na magsabi?

May manunulat sa loob ng isang manunulat. May makata sa loob ng isang makata. Malikot ang isip ng manunulat, kaya marahil naipalalaganap ang katotohanan ng buhay sa iba't ibang porma. Malikot ang isip ng manunulat, lahat ay nais niyang bigyang pansin. Hamon sa kanya na maitawid ang mensahe pati na ang mga simpleng detalye ng nakikita, nararamdaman, nalalasahan, naririnig o naaamoy niya. Malikot ang isip ng manunulat dahil tinatantya niya kung paano sasabihin ang isang masalimuot na ideya -- paniniwala niya na kung kumplikado o ikakahon niya sa simpleng pangungusap ang mga ideyang ito. Hamon sa kanya na madetalye ang bawat mensahe. Malikot ang isip ng manunulat sapagkat mailap at hindi uso sa kanya ang 100 leaves journal. Itinuturin bilang disiplinang pansarali ang matutuong magbalangkas -- para sa tuon, paghuhugutan, pagmumulan at pagwawakasan. Walang kamatayan ang manunulat. Ang kanyang naisulat ay mananatiling buhay na elemento ng mundo simula nang naisulat niya ang unang salita sa kanyang katha. Walang kamatayan ang manunulat sapagkat magagamit ang kanyang ideya ng mga susunod na henerasyon, at hihirangin ang kanyang pangalan para rito. Walang kamatayan ang manunulat dahil patuloy na maglalakbay ang kanyang isinulat.

May pamantayan para sa teknikal na aspeto ng pagsulat -- ano ang bastos, ano ang katanggap tanggap. Ano ang tamang bantas para sa nagsasalaysay, ano para sa patanong. Saan puputulin ang talata para ihiwalay sa isang grupo ng magkakaugnay na pangungusap o anong mga pangungusap ang dapat pagbuklurin. Kailan dapat alligned left o kailan justified.

Ngunit, hanggang sa ngayon, walang batas sa sining ng pagsusulat.
Ang pagsusulat ay pagpili. Ang pagsusulat ay paraan ng paglaya.

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*"Kapag nagsusulat ka, pinapalaya mo ang iyong sarili,
Kaya nakakatakot ang mga taong ayaw magsulat,
Dahil 'pag ayaw mong magsulat, ayaw mo nang lumaya."

- Prof. O. Joson