This Is How I See It

To claim that I am a writer is a lie.

Writing indeed is not my passion though I love to write. I am neither a correspondent nor a social analyst-wannabe but I do analyze current events. Though I do have concerns and do criticize the government, I haven’t joined any propaganda yet nakedly haven’t walked along the Edsa Shrine while consistently asking the president to resign. For I am not also political conscious to be an activist. I am nor a director, a production manager, a scriptwriter, or even a cameraman. But I still want that a certain story somehow in favors me.

I am neither in those professions all-wrapped-in-one nor also to target at least one title. Yet I am into a Mass Communication course.

My convictions may seem so paradoxical but that’s how I see it.

I am just so expressive. To express is then enough. Being as such does not mean a claim of being a jack-of-all-trades. This is how it goes like: things in mind should be spoken out and not let it be remained as ideas. Words do not have to be words at all, but shall be put into actions. Concepts are into tangible outcomes. Dreams are into realization.

Online journalism over its conventional type

If one were enough expressive then one could be a journalist. Even if he only had a pen and paper he still could make a scoop, that is, if he would just explore and be resourceful enough. Just like in photography, one could be a photographer if he himself would experiment shots.

In minds and hearts, therefore, professions do not require a person with high standards unless his keen interest forces him to do so.

In the field of journalism, a real journalist is guided by the constitutional laws. He follows a code of ethics in the exercise of his profession. Once he enters this kind of business he then agrees and applies the terms and conditions. So when he commits mistakes he shall pay for it.

When we talk about journalism it basically pertains to newspapers. A good newspaper shall consider criteria such as integrity, accuracy, responsibility and leadership. Thus, if a journalist works in accordance to the given ethics he is then being controlled by it. His convictions may be possibly forbidden as he writes it. For in any case, the articles’ content still depends on what the constitution states. In other words, this constitution somehow dictates the writer what to ethically write. Nevertheless, it is still beneficial not only to the publication but also to its community’s betterment.

As innovation constantly shapes our contemporary society, we are now being engaged in various new communication gadgets. With this, the traditional journalism can now be operated electronically, as it is so-called online journalism. Unlike the conventional one, blogging, in particular, produces easier and more accessible ways of searching information. Just a few clicks on the net will right after take a user to his desired sites. It features as more interactive as it lets people react through posting their feedbacks and suggestions after have read articles. The setting is like a spoon-feeding wherein knowledge is in reach of people. Another good thing is that one could also make his own blogs or websites where he could shout out his critiques without asking consensus from professional media practitioners or whatever is written in the constitution. Having this is not a means of rebellions which one could practice indecency and defamation. Traditional journalists often do not consider bloggers to automatically be journalists. This has more to do with standards and professional practices than the medium for they are much more liable for such things as libel. However, online journalism offers people a more convenient interaction and not a demonic profession. As online journalists or bloggers, accuracy, fairness, and good taste in reporting news must still be observed.

In overview, online journalism is an alternative medium. It is not to replace the traditional one but to suggest people a more efficacy, accessibility and convenience in terms of information-gathering, communication, interaction and expression. Knowledge in journalism cannot only be learned scholarly but sometimes outside world feeds it a person greater. As I have said, one could be knowledgeable, and all it requires of you is to explore and experiment.

Think of it.

Two Distinct News Angles and Their Underlying Theories

This document analyzes the comparisons and contrasts of a news story covered by and aired on two different news programs such as 24 ORAS (GMA 7) and TV Patrol (ABS-CBN 2). These two resembled news bits highlighted the issue about the alleged clash between the sociology professor Randy David and former economics professor President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2010 congressional race, as if David will defeat the latter.

Basically, when we talk about news writing, it must have elements such as timeliness, significance, prominence, conflict and currency, to be considered as news. As to compare the two similar-topic news yet distinct-contained angles, both possessed the aforementioned features. Timely, for it is immediate and recent. Significant, as it really affects the people particularly the Kampampangans. Yet prominent, because the event involves well-known people such as PGMA and media practitioner and columnist Randy David, in particular. The event is also geographically close to the readers mainly to the people of Pampanga since the major people involved are both from that province. In some point, the news possesses conflict for it tackles the clash amid people, as David would run to challenge and block Mrs. Arroyo’s plans to stay in power as prime minister if she would seat in congress. The current event somehow appears to be odd, as the political rivalry of these two dominant figures was entitled as “David vs. Gloriath”.

In terms of media coverage, both news programs have gathered credible sources as they televised the different sides and viewpoints of some institutions and prominent people such as political parties, political analyst and government officials, about the tough competition of Arroyo with her would-be opponent David.

As far as communication theories are concerned, these two unlike-angle-news coverage can be explained in theoretical perspective.

Effects Theory dominated as the news claimed that David amongst his supporters was encouraged to run and compete with the current president in the upcoming congressional race after he was informed of it, despite of the latter’s advantage of the incumbency and strong political connections. The theory explains that the news has profound direct effect on people. Specifically, this phenomenon explicates that since the media were used to broadcast as such information, therefore, viewers who could have watched it would later express their outlooks as they were someway affected of it. This shows that mass media can work on people like bullets on a target. The situation is like a shooting gallery. All that needed is to hit the target, and the target falls down. This theory is also known as Silver Bullet. Another phenomenon that underlies and interprets the news is Agenda setting, which explains that mass media do not tell people “what to think” instead “what to think about”. Meaning, media choose which topics to emphasize, thereby setting agenda. To cite an example from the news report, both media highlighted the views of all people who gave interpretations in the 2010 congressional race, aside from PGMA and David. At this point, after exposing some feedbacks of these credible people as regards to that matter, media let the viewers what to think about it.

Social Responsibility Theory goes with no bias, as it fairly takes and reveals different sides of concerns. It was partly shown in both news programs, when only David and his suspected allies were taken interviews excluding Mrs. Arroyo.

In contrast, GMA’s write-ups are clearer and more pertinent unlike of ABS-CBN, which to some extent, their write-ups differ from its video content. Another difference was their sequence of news details. In making news, it goes like you are writing the most important facts down to less important. 24 ORAS presented it in a way that the title or the lead tells the gist of the news. Then, it followed by the proper series of the details. Likely, from posting the question about a renowned sociology professor will defeat a seasoned politician and former economics professor in the 2010 congressional race, going to recapping of their educational attainment. On the other side, TV Patrol’s report seemed to be quite perplexed. Yet, their lead tackled the gist precisely but as it went further the main topic was almost left behind as it focused on Mikey Arroyo’s comments to David.

Looking at it with no favoritism, I could say that professional media practitioners Mike Enriquez and Sandra Aguinaldo, who were the anchor and the field reporter, delivered the news with full of conviction and credibility. Unlikely, what news anchor Karen Davila and field reporter R. Cruz reported the scoop as fast as they could making the news story somewhat poor and brain-twisting.

In overview, media networks may differ from the way they attack news. No matter how tough the news stories are, it’s still in the media how they effectively and easily convey people. Otherwise, no newsworthiness at all. The quality of the news is not based on the networks’ prominence nor its longer stay, rather its credibility, reliability, fairness and truth that count.