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Distorted Truth and Gained Wisdom |
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 Jess writes "August von Schlözer, a German historian and journalist of the 18th century said, “Foolish is the man who never reads a newspaper; even more foolish is the man who believes what he reads just because it is in the newspaper.
In a country like the Philippines where gossips are the staple food of the unemployed, reading newspaper is an appetizer. As most Philippine newspaper is tinged with opinionated reporting, showbiz gossips, political intrigues, unusual disaster and perennial crimes, the unemployed have much to gossip about to while away their time. To the “intellectual,” reading newspaper is nourishing their thoughts of ideas; goads them into critical thinking, and if so provoked, pushes them into action. To the evangelicals, however, reading newspaper is proof of the fulfillment of the Bible prophecy. Yes, it would be foolish for people not to read newspaper.
The question is - should one believe what one reads in the newspaper? One should exercise caution.
Everybody makes mistake, even the most honest and skilled professionals. Ariel Hart, a free-lance fact-checker and a writer based in Atlanta wrote in the Columbia Journalism Review – “I have never checked a story that had no mistakes, whether five pages long or two paragraphs.” Journalist faces many challenges. They must contend with unreliable news sources. Journalist usually works at quick pace. Newspapers are racing against one another to publish the hot breaking news. Subtle manipulation of news also occurs even in countries that enjoy freedom of the press. There are also pressure to conform if at stake is the lifeblood of the newspaper - the advertising revenue. Advertiser may threaten to withdraw profitable ads if the editor publishes anything negative about the advertiser. Worse of all, in the Philippines, the press, like other entities, is tainted of corruption.
“Envelopmental Journalism”, and “AC-DC”, are two derogatory terms known to media practitioner in the Philippines.
Journalism is deemed "envelopmental" if it involves an envelope of cash paid to journalists to sway their write-ups.
“AC-DC”, is an acronym for “Attack Collect – Defend Collect. A kind of journalism where writer attacks a person to collect money from that person's rival or enemy. The same journalist then defends the person originally attacked, also for a fee.
“Envelopmental journalism” became a by word during Marcos Martial Law. Ferdinand Marcos was sentient to the power of the press, and so, to deodorize and boutique his great “handiwork,” he prostituted the institution by bribing the media practitioner. This unsavory legacy gnaws at the media industry even today.
Martial Law shackled the press freedom. As the press freedom released from bondage during Corazon Aquino’s regime, the press resurrected itself with vengeance. Publications of every sort multiplied. Competition got stiff. Those publications that survived the competition became the mainstay during Fidel Ramos’ term. It was at this time “AC-DC” inconspicuously but significantly crept up into the system, up to now.
Before any media practitioner gets entitled of the “envelopmental” and “AC-DC” benefits, they have to establish their names and build their reputation first. They should have hordes of fans, and prove themselves effective and influential in swaying public opinion. Once at this stage, media practitioner can consider themselves in the pinnacle of their career as they inched their way up from being wretchedly paid.
What if every newspaper in the Philippines has journalists receiving benefits of the “envelopmental”and the “AC-DC”? What if there’s only one benefactor (individual or company) powerful, rich, and influential who can afford to buy every journalist who works in every media enterprise? This is not a far fetch idea. Nowadays, mass media and communications-information companies are doing merger for “globalization.”
With the teeming efforts of these unscrupulous journalists, their writings can be a potential force to induce collective behavior. Readers are like lump of iron. Each atom is like a tiny compass that can point its magnetic needle in a particular direction. Individually, each atom is free to choose its own orientation. Write-ups, opinions, articles larded up with “envelopmental” and “AC-DC” are like “magnetic forces” that lies in between, therefore, all atoms tend to align their needles. Under this scenario, images, ideas, concepts, presented with one theme, can be so powerful, it is capable of whatever the purveyor of “envelopmental” and “AC-DC” wanted to achieve. This principle bode well in the downfall of the then President Joseph Estrada.
How is one to know then what to believe when reading newspaper?
Discernment is necessary. The reader needs to examine carefully what is written to see if it has the ring of truth. One must ask a question as: What is the background of the writer? What are his prejudices? Does the story cite facts that other can check? Who might have an interest in distorting the truth? The reader may check different sources for verification.
I was a big fan of the late Teodoro Benigno, a rabid nationalist and a hard-hitting journalist, who has a column at the Philippine Star. He had been so influential that whatever campaign or cause, he indulged himself in, numerous fans of his streamed along with him. When he spearheaded a campaign to collect donation to help pay the would be prosecution lawyers for Joseph Estrada’s plunder case, many responded, and close to a million pesos was collected.
However, my admiration of him came to naught when on several occasions on his column - and he even “stake his all” - when he insisted the innocence of Hubert Webb, son of former Sen. Freddie Webb, who was one of those convicted and sentenced to life in the Vizconde Massacre. As the Supreme Court upheld the decision of Judge Tolentino, three more influential media personalities exhorted the innocence of Hubert Webb, as if beating a dead horse.
One can only surmise that once truth is distorted, one gain wisdom.
"
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Posted on Sunday, January 15 @ 14:24:55 CST by don |
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Re: Distorted Truth and Gained Wisdom (Score: 1)
by JJ on Sunday, February 26 @ 09:28:15 CST
(User Info | Send a Message) | apropriate topic! now media press is protesting like if the press itself has immunity no matter what. I protest over the press' involvement in politics.
Anyway I really like this article. nice going, Jess! |
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