watchdog over watchdogs...

BLOGGING as a form of JOURNALISM

2006-08-30T02:29:00.000-07:00

New technology today makes our work easier and faster. Blogging is one of the forms of new technology. But it is a form of journalism?

Back in 1993, blogging started to bloom in other countries, and later on in the country. There are about 1 million bloggers in the Philippines and 4.5 million world wide, either personal or proffesional blogs. Even journalists make use of this new form of technology in opublishing their news.

Prof. Rolando Fernandez,Bureau Chief of Philippine Daily Inquirer Northern Luzon, and a teacher in UP Baguio said " computer is a glorified typwriter" especially to him because his orientation was very different from the new journalists today. He also confirmed that this new form of technology really helps them in their job. In these sense, Prof. Fernandez consider blogging as a form of journalism, he believes that there is a bright future in blogging. He mentioned some good things about blogging. First, because it is more cheaper than to really publish stories in other forms of medium. You don't have to pay for the personels and the ink. He also admitted that interactivity is really more plausible in logs than in newspapers or televisions

"The audinece can react more in blogs" he said.

Aside from that, he also mentioned about censorship

" They can print and write about behind the sceness and even these censored by GMA, and its a good thing"

As other journalist said, blogging is not a threath to journalists like Prof. Fernandez. He still consider it as a "complement" in his work and it is an alternative for other mediums. And sometimes blogs or bloggers can be a sourece of information. He just gave some advice to the the community papers.

" Community papers must innovate their way in presenting local news, baka matalbugan sila ng blogs"

Philippine Daily Inquirer as he said never experienced or never came out with a report from a blog item as a source, and even Prof. Fernandez said, he never wrote a news from bloggers as sources. He gets information from different sources, he said that is his training, but he always makes a point that he double checks it.

Blogging is good because it has no censorship, but Prof. Fernandez said it still has, he mentioned about PCIJ being sued for libel because of the Garci tape issue. Aside from that, he mentioned about ethics on blogging.

The criticisms about blogging for him is that blogs don't shape the news as other medium does, like newspapers have some backgrounds of the topic before the main story. Second is that, bloggers (not journalists bloggers) don't know the basic rules of accuracy.

It is being considered that blogging is form of journalism, but machines as Prof. Fernadez said, it can never replaced what journalists are especially in their talents such as data gathering.

PGMA DELIVERS HER 6TH SONA

2006-07-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo delivered her 6th State of the Nation Address or SONA last July 24, 2006 at the Plenary Hall of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. The said SONA was delivered during the 3rd regular session of the 13th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines.

The title of her SONA "A call to join hands for survival and progress" was elaborated after giving thanks to Peaker Jose De Venecia, and other officials, congratulating the newly elcted Senate President, Manny Villar, and discussed the condition of OFW's in Lebanon. She directly said to the public, that the SONA is all about the government's plan and accomplishments and not to talk about politics.

" I am not here to talk about politics. I am here to talk about what the people want; details on the state of the nation and what their government is doing to make progress every single day".

The President emphasized the enhancement of the "competitive advantage" of the Natural Super Regions or the Mega Regions of the Philippines, which are, North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippines, Mindanao, and the Cyber Corridor.

North Luzon, which are Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Nueva Ecija, Neuva Vizcaya, Isabela, and Cordillera Region will focused on the agricultural and fishery business and investments of the country.

Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, consist of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mindoro and Marinduque. PGMA said "It must be a globally competitive urban, industrial and services center, because it produces more than half of the country's GDP."

Central Philippines plus the northern Mindanao will prioritize the tourism investment of the country. PGMA said these Region "has the competitive edge in tourism in its natural wonders and the extraordinary hospitality of its people...it attracts more than half of the foreign tourists to the Philippines. It is also the center of geothermal power in the country, which we continue to develop.

The rest of the MIndanao Region will also prioritize the agribusiness investments in the southern part of the country. "Mindanao is mostly fertile and largely typhoon-free, exporting coconut products and high value crops, and from its waters come 40% of the country's fish catch." PGMA said.

The Cyber Corridor will focus on telecommunications, technology and education in Oour country.This will help the youth in English and information and communication technology skills of the giving them a "competitive edge in call centers and other business process outsourcing. "

The President also mentioned plans on upgrading airpaorts and building new ones in other parts of the country. The rehabilitation and building of new bridges. She also mentioned about the Roll on Roll off project by the government, and the joining of LRT 1 and LRT 2.

While she has many plans in the country, critics said that there will be no fund with regards to these projects, Malacanang said, the airports will be fund by the local government officials, and the LRT and MRT together with the highways will fund by the businessmen in the country, but did not deny that they will get some financial help to other countries in case of some emergencies.

BANDILA: "Flag of journalism excellence"

2006-07-20T02:32:00.000-07:00

Bandila: "ABS CBN raises the flag of journalism excellence".

This is the headline made by Ayn Veronica De Jesus in her article in Manila Time. Bandila, is an "act of leadership" according to Maria Ressa, head of ABS CBN News and Current Affairs Division in her interview with De Jesus.

LITERALLY:

Bandila is an tagalog word for "flag" that symbolizes a nation. In our country, "bandila" is not only an act of freedom but also liberty. This was the symbol of independence from the countries that tried to invade or colonized the Philippines.

THE LOGO, THE ANCHORS AND THE PROGRAM:

The logo of Bandila news program has the three trademark colors of the Philippines flag, the blue the white and the yellow. Aside from the colors, there are also the three stars that symbolizes the three biggest island in the Philippines, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. Maria Ressa explained to de Jesus as "three colors, three stars, threeanchors". The said anchors are

Korina Sanchez, Henry Omaga-Diaz and ces Drilon, "the three of the network's most experienced repeorters-anchors". Bandilas' first episode or their pilot episode was aired last July 3, 2006. It has its 30 minutes running time, from 10:30 to 11:00 pm. The program replaced Insider, a news program of the network.

CONTRADICTIONS:

Bandila, a filipino word. It is the identity of ones country, it is the identity of the Philippine nation, as we can see in Bandila program logo. ABS CBN said that the program is entitled Bandila because the show is "nationalistic" in nature. But according to Chari Villa, part of the management team, in her interview with Ayn De Jesus of Manila Times, "the program will focus on national issues."

Ressa also said in her interview "We will give viewers the information to help them make decisions in their lives".But one of the networks goal for Bandila is to become agenda setting, which means thatthey believe that they have this "potential for structuring issues for the public". They will establish "the issue and images in the minds of the public." So how come that they are giving their audience a choice when in fact, to become an agenda setter is one of the goals of the program.

Another thing is that, Luchi Cruz-Valdez, the programs Executive-in charged of Production, said to Manila Times reporter Ayn De Jesus "media has been getting a lot of negative publicity lately...many viewers had begun to turn away from watching the news because most items focus on political bickerings, economic slump and national degradation.." THe statement was not supported by the pilot episode of the program because they aired the controversial video of General LIm organizing the coup de etat against President Gloria Arroyo. Where is that "something new" that they are saying?

DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE FROM THE OTHERS?

The staff said, the program will be noisy, colorful and not only present the where, when, what,who, but also the why and how. And these five W's and one H, is really the content of a news to makle it more credible and more objective in nature. And what will be their edge over, Jesicca Sojo Reports and Imbestigador in GMA7? The nature of the news is in fact the combination of the two programs from GMA7.

2006-07-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

FAIR FIGHT (MTRCB vs. I-WITNESS)

I-witness, GMA7s late night documentary program, was suspended for two weeks by the Movies and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) because of violations committed in the episode 'Lukayo: HIndi ito bastos' aired on May 22." (PDI)

I-witness is one of the most prestigious documentary program on television, it gathered and still gathering a lot of awards. One of the hosts, Howie Severino was awarded recently as Best Investigative Journalist by the Rotary Club of Manila. From what I have read, the battle between MTRCB and I-witness, is fair enough, because every body involved were explained their sides. I-witness staff and hosts gladly accepted the decision of the Board to ban the program for two weeks. The program will not go on air on the 3rd and 10th of this month.

I, myself did not see the said episode, according to the news, Lukayo is a ritual dance in Laguna. News said, Lukayo was depicted "women wearing wooden phalluses of exaggerated sizez and an act of masturbation." This said dance was first documented by Ramon Obusan, a national artist and ethnologist. he was also present in the hearing according to Howie Severino, the host and head writer of the program.

This news was from Philippine Daily Inquirer by Bayani san diego Jr. The article was clear and substancial, plus, both sides were interviewed. The writer first explained what the issue and the episode is all about, for the readers to understand especially those who did not see or watch the episode. It is just that, it would be better if he also interviewed Ramon Obusan, about his opinion in the issue, because he was the one who documented it first. It would also be better than better if the article was not placed on the entertainment section. The article that was presented was not elaborated well. But nevertheless it was a fair and balance report.

2006-06-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

IMBESTIGADOR.....IMBESTIGAHAN

Ang imbestigador ang isa sa mga hinahangaang programa na tagapagbigay ng balita. Ngunit hindi dahil hinahangaan na ito ng lahat ay wala na rin itong pagkakamali. Noong nakaraang sabado,ika-24 ng buwan na ito, naiulat ang panggagahasa sa isang babae sa loob ng kulungan. Ayon sa biktima, siya ay pinagbintangan ng kanyang amo na nagnakaw at ipinakulong ito. Isang linggo pa lang umano ito sa kulungan nang simulan gahasahin ito ng kapwa niya preso. Hindi umano siya nagsumbong dahil sabi daw ng suspect, kahit magsumbong daw siya, wala na itong pakiaalam dahil nasa kulungan na siya. Noong magsumbong siya, agad itong ipinaalam sa imbestigador. Ngunit parang mababaw dahil pinag-ukulan lamang ng parograma ang nangyari sa biktima. Hindi nila, isinali sa imbestigasyon kung bakit halo halo ang mga babae at lalaki sa kulungan ng Pasay. Doon dapat nagsimula ang imbestigasyon noon pa lamang, hindi noong may nangyari nang krimen sa loob mismo.

Noong sabado rin naiulat na talamak parin ang jueteng sa Baguio City. Sa palengke ng Baguio City pakalat kalat ang mga kubrador. May nasundan pa ng kamera nila ang isang kubrador na paikot ikot sa isang barangay sa siyudad.Ang isa namang kubrador ay nakuhanan ng kamera na may inabot na pera sa kasama niya, pagkatapos nito ay sumakay sa jeep papunta sa lokasyon ng service nila patungong La Trinidad Benguet kung saan nagaganap ang bolahan. Kinuha ang panig ng Mayor at mga pulis, hindi naman nila tinanggi ang isyu. Ngunit, hindi daw nila mahuli huli ang mga kubrador na ito dahil palipat lipat sila ng lokasyon. Sabi naman ng isang opisyal, hawak daw ito ng malalaking tao sa gobyerno kaya natatakot silang banggain ito. Ipinagmalaki ng imbestigador na apat na araw lang sila sa naturang lungsod ngunit marami na silang natuklasan at nalaman pa nila ang lugar kung saan nagbobolahan sa jueteng. Ngunit sa bandang huli, wala ring nangyari.

Sana sa susunod, hindi lamang pagmumulat ang gawin nila, sana rin ay tumulong sila sa pagsugpo dahil hindi naman pwedeng iasa sa mga opisyal ng Baguio. Hindi na rin nila kinuwestiyon kung sinu sino ang mga sinasabing :”malalaking tao” sa Baguio City, na datirati ay ginagawa nila. Bakit kaya?