Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Media work boosts chances of journalists running for posts
CEBU journalists running for barangay posts agree that being in media helped their candidacies. But most say it is not enough to guarantee election.
ABS-CBN reporter Ramil Ayuman credits his job in media for his election as number one councilor, out of about 44 aspirants, of Barangay Apas, Cebu City in 2002.
Ayuman, who is running for Apas barangay captain, told Sun.Star Cebu in a mobile phone interview hours before the votes were to be tallied that he has a “big chance of winning.”
Ayuman said he is optimistic of his chances at winning the post because he has the support of the urban poor and the majority of residents in Apas.
“Indeed being in media really matters (because) it has a big impact” on the people, said Malou Tabar of radio dyHP.
Tabar is running for Banilad barangay captain. Tabar, the granddaughter of the late Cebu City councilor Ananias Ouano, said being in media boosted her confidence in facing other people, talking to a large crowd, and gaining the public’s trust.
Popularity
Popularity also plays a major factor in winning elections, said Allan Majait of radio dySS.
Majait is running for Apas barangay councilor. He said in an interview yesterday that he was confident of making it to the “magic seven, (either) five or six.”
Sun.Star Superbalita reporter Joseph Elvir Tubilan, meanwhile, said that although he will not assume that he will win a post as barangay councilor of Poblacion, Barili, he is “60 to 70 percent positive of winning.”
While being in media may not be the main factor in winning an election, it provides an advantage especially during campaigns, some journalists said.
Rene Borromeo of The Freeman and radio dyLA said his work experience helped him deliver good speeches that made a great impact on listeners.
Borromeo, who is running for barangay councilor of Lorega-San Miguel, said that during campaigns, the public would wait for him to deliver his platform. He said that even if his speeches ran for 45 minutes, listeners would stay on until he is finished.
Tubilan said he learned some campaign strategies in the course of his reporting work.
The Freeman’s Gary Lao, on the other hand, said that although being in media may contribute in winning the elections, it’s the political platform that matters most to the electorate.
Lao is running for Tejero barangay councilor.
“I wouldn’t assume winning because running for a post is like applying for a job where your qualifications matter most,” Lao said. (TEP)
