TV Monitors

Cheering squad for Cha-cha
On Dec. 4, Newswatch, which is aired on government-sequestered RPN-9, came out with a one-sided report criticizing opponents of Charter change (Cha-cha) in Congress.
On hand to bash critics of Cha-cha were Raul Lambino, spokesperson of pro-Cha-cha Sigaw ng Bayan, and another advocate, Commissioner Romela Bengzon.
Lambino claimed that lawmakers were denying the Filipino people a peaceful solution to poverty and destitution. Bengzon, on the other hand, warned that the delay in moves to amend the Charter would only encourage individuals and groups to destabilize the government. She said the only solution to the problem was to change the current political system. No one was asked by the news program to present a contrary view.

Why they are in power
An ABC-5 TV report focused on the link between attempts to amend the Constitution and the forthcoming elections.
Discussing the constitutional provision against political dynasties last Nov. 30, the program Sentro named a number of political families, both at the national and local level, which had managed to circumvent term limits and stay in power.
Interviewed for the report was former 1986 Constitutional Commission member Christian Monsod, who blamed the unimplemented constitutional provision on Congress’ failure to pass legislation banning political dynasties.
Political clan members like San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, and Pasig Mayor Vicente Eusebio said they were in office because there was no law against their election. Besides, the people had voted for them.
Monsod said there is a need to infuse new blood into the government and not allow the same families to stay in power perpetually.

Joining the bandwagon
ABC-5 has joined ABS-CBN and GMA-7 in the disturbing practice of using news programs to promote their respective station’s entertainment shows.
During the latter stages of the successful Philippine Idol, news program Sentro provided live coverage of the show’s post-elimination proceedings, which sometimes lasted up to two minutes. The report usually included the career plans of the show’s more successful contestants.
The hard-sell promotion reached its peak when the show’s first winner, Mau Marcelo, performed in Malacañang last Dec. 20.
Sentro dutifully covered the event. The reporter complimented Marcelo for having been invited to Malacañang, saying her large fan base in the Palace prompted the invitation. An extended clip showed Marcelo thanking her fans and telling them to buy her upcoming album.
Now, would anyone call that news?

Forgetting the basics
Even children of alleged rebels have rights. But the media occasionally forget this basic fact. ANC Top Story’s efforts to blur the faces of Abu Sayyaf leader Dulmatin’s six- and eight-year-old sons were laudable but wasted. Reporter Ces Oreña Drilon named the children in the report (Nov. 30).

Mocking instead of reporting
Supposed to be tasked with disseminating information to educate the public, NBN-4’s Teledyaryo, the government network’s primetime newscast, had a report last Dec. 5 that utterly failed in this purpose.
The newscast was supposed to be about a Pampanga ethnic group’s dance ceremony that was meant to dispel evil spirits.
Reporter Alvin Baltazar began his story with a gathering of senior citizens. He said: “Sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, mga matatanda pansamantalang pinagsama–sama. Bruskong mga dating papa, pati na mga hot mama. Pinagpares-pares, animo’y mga lovebirds.  Pati mga attire aba’y hanep, mukhang mainit-init, hinango sa baul noong sila’y dating mga bagets. Tingnan niyo naman si lolo, ahead na ahead ang attire para sa Valentine’s, ternong pula at puti, naku po, sa sapatos, sumabit.”
He then ridiculed one of the program’s speakers, “At teka, teka, ma’am, mukha mo yata’y hindi na maipinta. Change view nga tayo para umaliwalas kapaligiran mo.”
When a member of the group playing a guitar appeared on screen, Baltazar quipped, “May tugtog na tayo.” With shots of the ethnic minority group dancing in a modern, white-painted room, a woman he called “Mareng Mystica” explained that the group was dancing to cast out spirits causing diseases.
The reporter, apparently wanting to sound funny or witty, continued, “Ano ’ka mo, neneng? Masamang espiritu? Ito yatang isang ’to, di kaya sinukuban? Positive, may sanib!”, referring to a non-native who interacted with the minority group.
Because he was busy mocking his subjects, Baltazar forgot to mention the important and most basic details of the story—the name of the minority group, the context, and cultural significance of their dance.

Cross-eyed conclusion
Teledyaryo played interpreter, analyst, and cheerleader rolled into one in its Dec. 13 newscast. Citing a survey by the Center for Issues and Advocacy that said 43 percent of Filipinos still believed in President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s leadership, the program came to an odd conclusion: given their faith in the president, the respondents also believed that the Constitution needed amending via a constitutional commission. Where did that come from?

Giving exclusives a bad name
If consistent with high journalistic standards, exclusive stories make journalists and their media organizations proud. But television seems to have given exclusives a different meaning.
Last Nov. 23, 24 Oras’s “exclusive story” was about a melee in a videoke bar where a man went berserk after learning that his girlfriend was working there as an entertainer. The man hit his lover with a bottle.
In an interview with a GMA-7 reporter, the man said he did hurt his girlfriend out of jealousy.
The reporter followed this up with the question, “Gaano mo siya kamahal?”

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