“Deep-backgrounding” in broadcast journalism

by Lynda Jumilla

 

A DAY after the House of Representatives impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) began airing the show ANC Presents: Chief Justice on Trial.

I host this talk show, which airs every Tuesday and features key players in the move to oust the highest official of the judiciary.

Some thought it was a combination of foresight and advanced information that allowed us to mount ANC Presents on what appeared to be only a day’s notice. After all, most people– including many members of the media–had no inkling at all of what was going to happen in the afternoon up to the early evening of December 12, 2011.

In reality, it was a mixture of serendipity, quick thinking and skill on the part of ANC’s editorial and production teams. The 7pm-8pm Tuesday time slot had been vacated by the previous program; our request to interview a political personality had not been acted upon–something we learned about only two days before the proposed date of the interview and airing; and of course, administration congressmen had just caused an uproar with their swift impeachment of the Chief Justice.

One month later, as a prepared to cover the impeachment trial at the Senate, I could only be thankful for ANC Presents: Chief Justice on Trial.

Of course, I read the impeachment complaint, Corona’s defense, the prosecution’s reply and all other related materials–whether news clippings or actual pleadings–to make myself familiar with the issue.

But having a program where key players of the impeachment as well as some very good legal and political minds explain the finer and more technical points of this exercise was even better.

It’s like going through a tutored review class where you don’t just read the materials but have these explained to you by experts.

The other thing I set out to do the moment I learned that I would be part of ANC’s special coverage was talk to my political and legal sources. At times, it would be an on-cam interview; sometimes it would be off-cam for a no-attribution story; many times it would be for deep background only.

“Deep-backgrounding” is a favorite technique of mine in political reporting, and a carry-over from my days as a print journalist. I find that news sources talk more freely when they don’t have to worry about retribution or other repercussions as a result of their having talked to media. Of course, in return for their confidence and in accordance with media ethics, I don’t identify them or use their story–unless they expressly allow me to do so. Still, I can validate the information with other sources or documents, or use it as a lead for other angles or stories.

In my 11 years in broadcasting, I’ve noticed that only a handful of reporters take advantage of “deep background” sessions to dig up stories or develop news sources. I think it stems from the notion–mistaken, I must say–that information is fit to be aired only if it’s recorded on tape or caught on camera. Not so, I’m convinced, because there are other ways of validating the information or getting someone to say it on record.

Deep-backgrounding is actually a very good technique to employ for broadcast, especially TV, because some news sources tend to clam up or simply freeze in the glare of camera lights or when a microphone is thrust into their face.

For the Corona impeachment trial, I’ve had background briefings or sometimes just long talks-– kuwentuhan, as we say in the vernacular–to get a roadmap, a sense of where each side, party, group or individual is going. As the trial progressed, I continued to touch base with my sources off-cam.

But I think the most difficult part of preparing for the coverage–and the coverage itself–is keeping in mind that no matter how deeply I’ve immersed myself in a particular issue or sector, I’m still an outsider and should think, ask questions and report like one. Hence, the basic question: what does this mean to and for the ordinary reader, viewer or listener.

In annotating, reporting or commenting on the impeachment trial, for instance, it’s very tempting to resort to legal and political jargon, concepts and precepts. After all, that’s what you hear and talk about four to five hours a day, four days a week. It also gives the impression that you’re knowledgeable on the matter at hand.

But aside from alienating the audience–who probably don’t know the spelling of prima facie, let alone its meaning-–it’s tantamount to failing to meet their expectation to hear news or commentary they can relate to and understand.

For in the end, the role of a journalist is not to talk, write or report in the words of his news sources. A journalist’s duty is to talk, write or report in the language his audience will understand.

 

Lynda Jumilla is a political correspondent of ABS-CBN News, the news anchor of Ibabalita Ngayon on Studio 23, host of ANC Presents: Chief Justice on Trial on ANC, and occasional commentator over radio DZMM.