Hail to the KBP
WE join our colleagues in the journalism enterprise in
congratulating the new officers and members of the Camarines Sur
chapter of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) and
the Citizens Advisory Board (CAB on the occasion of their joint
induction ceremony last Saturday with the theme: “Broadcasting: a
commitment, an obligation, a responsibility.”
The event, a preface of things to watch for in the local broadcast
industry, uncorked the right sound bite when newly inducted KBP
President Amy Villafuerte of ABS-CBN revealed during her address
that at least 60 percent of those media practitioners currently on
board or on air are not duly accredited and therefore should have
no business masquerading as radio anchormen or reporters. In other
words, the broadcast industry teems with people who are not
supposed to be heard on the airlanes as harbinger of news and
weaver of issues and opinion. This is a malady which in the first
place should not have seen the light of day if concerned station
managers were strict in observing this primary requirement.
Nevertheless, we are glad that SM Villafuerte has brought to fore
this elementary and yet serious matter which therefore should mean
that rectification and appropriate policing of the broadcast
media’s ranks are in order. Other urgent concerns hounding the
local broadcast industry should follow. Likewise, there are things
to be given a thought, like for instance drawing the thin line
between news and rumor, or putting some logic on a local TV
program whose hosts are fond of injecting Tagalog words just to
look cute (read: silly) instead of sticking to the rich Bicol
language, especially if the show is about Bicol sceneries, crafts,
and values. The Cebuanos are proud to use theirs faithfully; why
can’t we?
Of course, we expect our broadcasters to do some self-examination,
as we in the print media also need to, on the government’s brazen
pressure to hew our reporting according to their comfort and
pleasure. Never should any pressure other than our conscience tell
us what to do and not do in exercising our craft as finders of
facts in our effort to seek the truth.
Hail to our profession
WHILE we are at it, may we take this chance to reiterate that the
media as the fourth state has also been marked by our readers and
listeners and viewers to be a flawed institution, some of our
colleagues unabashedly waltzing with those they indicted with
wrongdoing, and partake with the bounty that criminals and dirty
politicians looted from taxpayers’ money.
Like any other noble profession, our job is intended to achieve,
accomplish or build something regarded as in public interest. We
also deal on exposes which are an investigation and disclosure of
an abnormal condition, such as malfeasance in office, which is
considered against public interest. Furthermore, it should be
reiterated that the best check against excesses of power is an
informed public. That is our statement. That is our commitment. No
one can change that, not even the occupant in Malacañang whose
moral ascendancy we need to figure out because it is only the
truth that will set us free.
