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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Capillas: Sage advice
By Stephen Capillas
The Lowdown
A 19-year-old sportscaster offered some interesting insights in last Friday evening's edition of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" that may be of some use to novice and even veteran media practitioners.
The 19-year-old whose name escapes this writer now cited his embarrassing experience in interviewing a major football player--remember, this guy did this while in his teens.
The sportscaster who's still studying at a top journalism school said he rambled on and on about the player's history only to end up with the question "So how does it feel to be Mr.______ aka yourself?"
To which said football player reportedly shook his head, looked around elsewhere and commented, "That's the stupidest question I've ever heard."
The young sportscaster then went on to relate how this football star eventually ended up being one of his valued contacts and friends and even helped him start his young career.
Recounting this slip the young sportscaster said all reporters, whether novices or veterans, should prepare their questions and do research on their subjects no matter what that person's station in life is--a star athlete, a movie star, a top public official or the average person on the street.
Again sage advice from an adolescent sportscaster who still has many years left for him to practice and hone his craft. Incidentally that young sportscaster managed to land quite a splash in the American sports community when an interview with another major football star, Terrell Owens, caused the latter's suspension by his team.
Turned out that the sportscaster and Owens were friends, which caused the latter to open up and condemn his team for their lackluster moves in the off-season. Though Owens did apologize a suspension was imposed on him.
Through this, the young sportscaster said he is still trying to learn the ropes. And it looks like the young man will continue to make his mark in the sports broadcast industry.
Hopefully the same thing can be said of Filipino journalists, who face bigger odds and less than suitable conditions than their American counterparts--as evidenced by the recent murder of yet another media practitioner, this time from the broadcast industry.
This goes double for those who haven't undergone formal training and learned the profession through hands-on exposure and trial and error.
The problem with exposure, no matter how extensive and trial and error, which is much more dangerous is that it can often lead to more disastrous consequences, i.e. libel suits or worse death threats and harassments.
There are of course unscrupulous elements in any profession and the media has its share of bad eggs, but on the whole it had exercised responsibility along with loads of courage and independence in reporting the news.
Still efforts to further professionalism the ranks are urgently needed and starting them young--probably in their teens--may be the way to do it. And exposure to the right media outlets is a step in the right direction.
(November 22, 2005 issue)
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