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Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Cabaero: Another divide
By Nini B. Cabaero
Beyond 30
It could be taken for granted that the opinion section of a newspaper is separate from the news pages. But there is a reason for that divide, other than the space needed for the photos of opi-nion writers. There still is wisdom in separating news and views in media.
On the occasion of Cebu Press Freedom Week, I address the question of whether separating news and views is still relevant to media in this age of breaking down barriers and the morphing of mediums.
Newspapers offer news and views for the purpose of informing readers. The news sections provide readers with the straight news without trying to influence or sway their way of thinking. The opinion sections present commentaries or analyses on news events in the hope of enlightening readers.
Although we live in a world of borderless tensions that give way to complex issues, newspapers play a role in trying to organize information in a way that would make information useful to media consumers.
It used to be that the first page, the most prominent part of the newspaper, is devoted fully to news. But, with complex issues arising and needing fuller explanation of events, it is quite common for newspapers to carry views by editorial writers on page one.
When two decades ago there was no expanded value-added tax (VAT), now the Philippines not only has the expanded VAT but also an r-VAT or a “reformed” consumer tax.
When a generation ago there was a simple way of governance, today we have cross-boundary projects like the South Reclamation Project (SRP) and the subsequent political tug-of-war between Cebu and Talisay cities.
When a year ago we were sure of only one Cebu Province, soon there may be three in Cebu if proposals in the House of Representatives were approved.
All these need to be explained to readers and analyzed for them towards a better appreciation of the changes going on in society.
Gone are the days of strict delineation between news and views, simply because of the need to fill in an information void in the light of these complex issues. Yet it becomes a question of ethics if media were to pass off a writer’s opinion for news.
What is important is that an analysis or opinion piece in the news sections of the publication be properly labeled as such, is attributable to a person in a position to do such analysis and is a requirement for the sake of clarity for the reader.
New forms of journalism have cropped up to make the news more engaging to the readers, but there are limits to this genre to keep the writer’s opinion separate from the news.
It is a matter of ethics that the delineation between news and views remains. News and views, as tools of information dissemination, have similar yet distinct purposes.
(September 20, 2005 issue)
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