GETTING the latest buzz is not as hard as it used to be. We rely on news to keep us up-to-date about various topics and issues that may be vital to us. We get stories from broadsheets, radio, television, and the through the internet. While many sources of information are most of the time accurate, there are some that fail terribly in delivering objective or unbiased reporting.
During the U.S. presidential campaign, then Republican candidate Donald Trump said that he was sick and tired of the media always attempting to place his words into some kind of context. He may have a point on his controversial statement. Some netizens believe that there are few media people who tend to publish a story that has been coloured by the viewpoint of the writer. Although the published story may have a basis in existence, the flow of the account mirrors the outlook through which the journalist or broadcaster views a particular issue.
It is never wrong to have an opinion. Generally speaking, it is one’s perspective or statement that may not be definite. In broadsheets, a journalist’s views are found in the editorial or opinion section. But when writing a straight news, it is different, that’s why it’s called straight – don’t put a twist on it.
Here’s one good example which I saw on the net. There is this photo of a snake crawling near the shore with a fish on its mouth. For a subjective writer, he or she would caption the picture this way: “the brave snake saves the fish from drowning in the water.”
Acheche! – As the young Aiza Seguerra reacted. Oh wake up, little Susie! We need to do better than that. Some tend to forget the ABCs or the essentials in reporting that they keep inserting personal impressions that the public does not need. It’s like telling the people that a new overpass in City of San Fernando opens but the folks in Bacolor are not happy about it because it’s not beneficial for them. Or say, a new Japanese resto in Angeles is ready to serve Filipinos but the locals are looking for adobo. Don’t be surprised if this Christmas season a story like this will be published: Bibingka sell like hotcakes; fishball vendors to hold rally.
Unfortunately, there is tendency for the press to play up and dwell on stories and sensationalize. A poll conducted by different international news orgs that was published in Daily Source reveals that 78 percent of the public thinks journalists enjoy reporting on the personal failings of officials while 48 percent believe that they see misleading headlines in their read more than once a week. But don’t put words into my mouth… the media is still dominated by high class professionals with integrity, honesty, and impartiality. Some mainstream media like GMA News Online are open to correcting their own mistake which they previously did when they did a story about the peace talks. They were also brave enough to admit the error.
If media is expected to stand for responsible journalism, the same goes for the public who reads, listens and watch their sources of information. Let us also be responsible readers, listeners and viewers as well.