Journalism Review Archives | Page 70 of 159

Making sense of Calida’s second quo warranto

SOLICITOR GENERAL (SolGen) Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition in the Supreme Court on February 10 asking the high court “to forfeit” ABS-CBN’s franchise, challenging the media and the public to make sense of the legal undertaking. But there was no copy of the petition available on that...

One year of rehab for Manila Bay: Beyond coliform readings

A TIMELY question a year after the “Battle for Manila Bay” was launched: Who’s winning? The government kicked off its three-phase and seven-year rehab plan for the once majestic Manila Bay last year on January 27, with hundreds joining a solidarity walk along Roxas Boulevard. CMFR noted then that...

Continuing nCoV coverage: News organizations made a difference

FILIPINO WATCHED with alarm as China grappled with the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (nCoV-ARD). With overseas Filipino workers in China and elsewhere, and the influx of Chinese nationals, both tourists and workers, the sense of crisis quickly gripped the nation. The Department of Health...

The nCoV travel ban: Beyond the regional scope

PRESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte ordered a temporary ban on the entry into the Philippines of tourists from China and its special administrative regions of Macau and Hongkong. But some visitors from that country have nevertheless managed to visit Boracay island despite the ban. Duterte issued the order last February 2,...

News that keeps up with science

JOURNALISTS HAVE demonstrated improved capacity in reporting tropical cyclones and its dangers. Some 20 typhoons a year gives the press a lot of practice. With the eruption of Taal, journalists must prepare to report another kind of disaster phenomenon. Taal’s eruption forced the media and even local government units...

Initial coverage on nCoV threat: Some media organize information better than others

ON DECEMBER 31, 2019, overseas news reported an outbreak of a “mysterious” respiratory disease spreading in China. By January 7, 2020, Chinese health authorities had identified the disease as a new type of the coronavirus, now referred to as the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV). Reports said experts suspect that...

ICC complaint withdrawal: Does it Matter?

ON JANUARY 14, lawyer and International Criminal Court (ICC) complainant Jude Sabio announced that he would withdraw his complaint. He said that he realized the complaint he filed before the ICC in 2017 alleging that President Rodrigo Duterte is guilty of crimes against humanity was driven by “political propaganda”...

Problematic numbers: Reporting the “Duterte Legacy”

WITH TWO more years to go, the Duterte administration seems overly concerned with drumming up publicity over its legacy. The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) launched a “Duterte Legacy” campaign on January 17, which Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said focuses on accomplishments in three key areas: peace and order,...

Contextualizing news: TV reports capture irony of Chinese Coast Guard “friendly” visit

WHOAH! IT’S the Philipiine Coast Guard (PCG) making “nice-nice” with the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG). How should any self-respecting journalist report the event? With tongue in cheek or a strong dose of skepticism which would call for context – in order to tell more about the real story than...

National protocols for animal protection during disasters needed

WHEN THE Taal Volcano began spewing ash on January 12, the residents of the communities surrounding the picturesque landmark evacuated, taking with them their possessions. But as droves of affected locals made the exodus, countless animals – precious pets and livestock alike – were left behind. The rescue of...