“Always give the two sides of the story.”
“Never take sides”
“Be objective. Do not give your opinion.”
These and many others are just some of the things that every journalism student learns in their early years of training. These, among others, are the things that had already been inculcated in my mind as a journalism student, a campus reporter and a future journalist.
Whenever I write a news story, I always keep in mind the golden rule: OBJECTIVITY. I always struggle to give the two sides of the story, to be fair to both parties, to avoid taking sides and to curb my prejudices from influencing my write-up. I don’t know if I had been successful though.
For four years now that I had been both a journalism student and a campus journalist, I tried to be the person that my instructors wanted me to be: a responsible reporter. The trainings that my journalism instructors gave me were rigid and grueling; they have inculcated in us the very same lessons of fairness and objectivity and the need for reporters to be free from prejudices.
However, observing the real world of the media sometimes confuses me. Aside from fairness and objectivity, I had always been taught that it is unethical for a journalist to use his power for personal reasons. And yet, when I observe some media men not only here in the city but to other places as well, I see otherwise.
What were taught to us in the classroom is different to how the real world of journalism operates. A lot of things that we have learned inside the classroom, like most things you learn inside the classroom, are only applicable inside the classroom.
In Dumaguete for example, there is one community paper that have been in existence for how many years but it would surprise you when you get to read its contents. News stories are not news stories at all as they are littered with opinions and words that shouldn’t have been there. There is also one broadcaster who would yak and yak in his program without thinking that he is already going beyond the limit. I sometimes wonder if these “journalists” have ever heard of the term “responsible journalism” in their lives.
Going beyond Dumaguete, I observed that there are also newspapers and online publications that are not observing the principle of objectivity in their issues. I had been monitoring one online publication that was one of those tagged by the AFP as supporter of the NPA and I realized that maybe, the military has its point.
The said publication does not, as I have observed, publishes anything from the side of the army. The style of writing is also in the offensive. The articles are biased to the other side and almost all articles are against the government and the military.
It is not surprising to me therefore to hear the Armed Forces of the Philippines accusing some media men and media groups to be supporters of the rebel movement. I guess if we only stick to what is taught to us in school and be objective, we could stay away from these accusations.
It is not surprising to me therefore to see media people being charged with libel cases. If they learn the meaning of the term “journalism ethics” then probably they could start getting away from all these charges.
Responsible journalism is very important. Giving both sides of the story without showing your prejudice is hard, I know, I’ve experienced it. It is hard but not exactly impossible if we would try really hard.
I am now in my last year in College. Despite my confusion and some misgivings with the profession, I still want to pursue journalism. I am only hoping that everything I learned in school will not be forgotten when I finally join the force.
Fairness, objectivity, accuracy---my mantra for the future.
“Never take sides”
“Be objective. Do not give your opinion.”
These and many others are just some of the things that every journalism student learns in their early years of training. These, among others, are the things that had already been inculcated in my mind as a journalism student, a campus reporter and a future journalist.
Whenever I write a news story, I always keep in mind the golden rule: OBJECTIVITY. I always struggle to give the two sides of the story, to be fair to both parties, to avoid taking sides and to curb my prejudices from influencing my write-up. I don’t know if I had been successful though.
For four years now that I had been both a journalism student and a campus journalist, I tried to be the person that my instructors wanted me to be: a responsible reporter. The trainings that my journalism instructors gave me were rigid and grueling; they have inculcated in us the very same lessons of fairness and objectivity and the need for reporters to be free from prejudices.
However, observing the real world of the media sometimes confuses me. Aside from fairness and objectivity, I had always been taught that it is unethical for a journalist to use his power for personal reasons. And yet, when I observe some media men not only here in the city but to other places as well, I see otherwise.
What were taught to us in the classroom is different to how the real world of journalism operates. A lot of things that we have learned inside the classroom, like most things you learn inside the classroom, are only applicable inside the classroom.
In Dumaguete for example, there is one community paper that have been in existence for how many years but it would surprise you when you get to read its contents. News stories are not news stories at all as they are littered with opinions and words that shouldn’t have been there. There is also one broadcaster who would yak and yak in his program without thinking that he is already going beyond the limit. I sometimes wonder if these “journalists” have ever heard of the term “responsible journalism” in their lives.
Going beyond Dumaguete, I observed that there are also newspapers and online publications that are not observing the principle of objectivity in their issues. I had been monitoring one online publication that was one of those tagged by the AFP as supporter of the NPA and I realized that maybe, the military has its point.
The said publication does not, as I have observed, publishes anything from the side of the army. The style of writing is also in the offensive. The articles are biased to the other side and almost all articles are against the government and the military.
It is not surprising to me therefore to hear the Armed Forces of the Philippines accusing some media men and media groups to be supporters of the rebel movement. I guess if we only stick to what is taught to us in school and be objective, we could stay away from these accusations.
It is not surprising to me therefore to see media people being charged with libel cases. If they learn the meaning of the term “journalism ethics” then probably they could start getting away from all these charges.
Responsible journalism is very important. Giving both sides of the story without showing your prejudice is hard, I know, I’ve experienced it. It is hard but not exactly impossible if we would try really hard.
I am now in my last year in College. Despite my confusion and some misgivings with the profession, I still want to pursue journalism. I am only hoping that everything I learned in school will not be forgotten when I finally join the force.
Fairness, objectivity, accuracy---my mantra for the future.
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