LIKE concerned citizens, those of us who work in media can’t afford to confine ourselves to an echo chamber.
We need to listen to the ideas of readers and advertisers, especially when we think about what else we can do to stay relevant to our communities.
Here are some thought-provoking challenges:
My definition of media has always been that we are watchdogs of society and for media to adapt and thrive, we have to keep to the basics of good, old-fashioned factual and verified reporting. While we adapt to changing times by being available online 24/7, we should resist the pressure of instant compulsive posting without verification. I trust that a reasonable audience won’t mind the minor wait for their trusted sources to validate and verify the facts. There is so much fake news going around that people are now wary of instant information that seems too good, too bad or too graphic to be true. Integrity is something the public looks for and SunStar has built a strong and solid reputation of keeping the facts straight through the years.
Frances Alfafara,
Cebu City Marriott Hotel
Newsgathering and accuracy should never be compromised. Reporting should be very careful not to be colored politically or slanted against certain personalities because people in this age are very sensitive compared to the readers before. You will notice some are resorting to blogs when they see a news company as “biased”. As a Cebuano who grew up with SunStar, the trust is there. But for the public in general, digital information is the future although there will still be a market left for hard copies. News and information should be live and real-time. Getting service from your company should be done online already; you should have an online office and store where people will just post the information they need, choose a package, then pay.
Robinson Uy,
La Nueva
I see SunStar as media company that gives the latest updates about everything. Different topics, new trends, politics, celebrity news. What’s in and what’s not. Fashion. To me, SunStar through the years has been No. 1 because you easily adapt to change. You have already established what you are here in Cebu, which is a media company that gives people the most updated news, the latest trends, entertainment, and everything else. What else do you need to offer to be relevant? Lesser rates probably. Just kidding. (Try) to be more affordable to those startup businesses that need support in promoting their brand; if in law there’s pro bono, maybe you can also do that. But you are relevant to me as you are.
Theresa Malig-on,
SM Prime Cebu
Timing is key. Be the most updated page in social media and among websites, a trendsetter in the digital format and the go-to page when it comes to fresh news and trending topics. SunStar is a known and trusted newspaper in Cebu. To continue to be relevant, get the facts right and always double-check articles and photos. Headlines should not be misleading, especially in social media. Nowadays, readers are more perceptive and can spot biased news. Create more content opportunities for online advertisers. Improve an online platform where we could possibly advertise or sponsor news posts and live coverage.
Michelle Cutang,
Primary Group of Companies