Sunday, August 15, 2004 Media and surviving By Bong Aportadera
'There was a common feeling of indignation mixed with anxiety over the killings. This incident is not uncommon among us media fellows, the only way to silence those who seek to inform the public about the truth is to permanently put them out of their misery...shoot them.'
IT has been on the main pages of almost every newspaper, the headlines of every television or radio news report..."Mediaman shot!"
Just last Friday, I had the honor to join fellow media practitioners both print and broadcast, for a silent vigil for the recent slain broadcast practitioners. I lit a candle on the pavement of the Rizal Park as a sign of offering my prayers to the fellow departed broadcasters who were shot at in the past weeks.
There was a common feeling of indignation mixed with anxiety over the killings. This incident is not uncommon among us media fellows, the only way to silence those who seek to inform the public about the truth is to permanently put them out of their misery...shoot them.
I salute the unfortunate practitioners who died in the line of duty. Like a soldier who loses a comrade in the battlefield, there is a strong feeling of anger and a sense of vindication, but reality tells us that revenge is futile, and unholy.
Lighting that candle made me think hard. Where do we media guys go from here? Will other shady characters capitalize on this? Will honest and courageous reporters suffer the same fate as those who were recently taken out, simply because they were just doing their job? Is press freedom dying? No, expression will always be FREE. There are others who continue the fight for the truth. The fear has to end.
The public should know that the KBP is currently cleaning its ranks. True to its self regulation ruling, broadcasters who violate the KBP Code of ethics, or misrepresent the Association will be dealt with accordingly. We cannot let the few bad apples rot the entire bushel.
KBP will continue to serve the public unselfishly through information and entertainment. It will only uphold on what is true, what is just, and what is right for the public.
The killing of a broadcaster will stop the truth from being told, but it will never completely hide it, because there are hundreds more who are willing to pick up where the fallen comrade left off.
(August 15, 2004 issue) Write letter to the editor.Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
