Ilang linggo na rin tayong binubuliglig ng mga humpay na palitan ng patudsada ng dalawang higanteng estasyon sa telebisyon--ang abs-cbn at gma7. Sa maghapon kong pagtatrabaho, sa totoo lang, ayoko ng makita pa ang remote control. Simple lang kung bakit. Sawa na ako sa patuloy na paglilinis ng kamay na paulit ulit din namn nilang dinudumihan sa pamamagitan ng pagbabatuhan nila ng putik sa isa't-isa. This battle of words that is raging on between these tv stations has become a big disappointment. I thought our television stations are responsible. I simply thought they are different. I was wrong.
Let me explain my side.
Media is first and foremost a public service rather than a business enterprise. As such, television networks and all other media organizations for that matter have the obligation to serve the public selflessly. It is their duty to uphold what is true and factual not from the perspective of a handful of self-serving interests and think-tanks they call as masters and gatekeepers but from the perspective of sincere and honest reportage. Beyond the call of pockets,therefore, comes the call for the truth--the very reason why people have use for media, in the first place. Sadly, these stations have been feeding the mouths of the masses with their perceived and convenient truth and facts. This, I think, is a mark of decadent mass media system.
From the context of these two rivals, media is no longer "mass media" BUT media for the preservation of pride and gains and the annihilation of an enemy. Perhaps, they are losing sight of the essence of what makes journalism a noble cause to pursue--rendering selfless service to the people and the perpetual obsession for the naked truth.
Their actions present a daring paradox. Previously, they were among those that/who reminded the people not to become willing prey for the glorious supper of a vicious predator they call "trial by publicity". They were fierce and aggressive in this call against it. But now, everything is different. What at stake now is no longer the seat of a president who allegedly plundered from public coffer. What at stake now is the business interest of these two Goliaths. And, still they are fierce and aggressive but not on how to kill "trial by publicity" but on how they can stealthily and cleverly use it to crush and send the other Goliath to the far-reaches of the abyss.
I think one or two official statement/s from each network will be enough to state their respective case. Exhausting all corporate resources to kill the other network is unwarranted, in fact senseless. Stupid and dumb the people are not. We are thinking organisms. You need not feed our mouths with your carefully-phrased words. For God's sake you need not do that. You are insulting us.
Para sa isang karaniwang empleyado at mamamayang tulad ko--korte ang wastong lugar upang magsiwalat at magbunyag ng mga pinaniniwalaan ninyong katotohanan. Yaman din lamang at naihain niyo na ang inyong mga argumento sa hukuman, maari ba..please lang tumigil na kayo. Your actions are devouring the tender minds of the young people. Your publicity gimmicks incite them to think illogically like you do.
Yes, it is but permissible for each network to protect their interests but achieving that at the expense of innocent people is totally uncalled for.
Live up to your creed as journalists.
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