Life on the Beat: The House of Representatives

Life on the Beat – What Journalism Students Saw
The House of Representatives
By Junette B. Galagala

As one reporter puts it, the House of Representatives beat is “reactionary.”  That is, reports are mostly based on the reactions of the congressmen on issues being taken up by the House.

Still, House reporters have plenty of other sources for their stories besides the press release. They can check the bills that have been filed or the resolutions at the index.  They can also attend press conferences, congressional inquiries, as well as committee hearings. They can also cover the sessions and conduct interviews.  They can also monitor the news (both print and broadcast) and contact committee secretaries.  And they can also check out the press releases that the Public Relations and Information Department issues via the Congress website.

The background or level of research for each story often depends on the reporter’s initiative since there are the Bills Index and reference materials from committee secretariats at their disposal. Sometimes, however, reports from Congress are just the reaction of a single representative on one issue.

The common practice to achieve balanced reports is to contact representatives of different stands regarding an issue. Congressmen usually attach their contact numbers (usually their cell phone numbers) to their press releases.  Reporters also have their own set of contacts and either call or send text messages to these congressmen.

Reporters are also able to talk to the legislators during a session and interview them near the exit or outside the session hall. Usually, cameramen are the ones left at the session hall to monitor the proceedings.  Unless there is a big issue, reporters usually cover the sessions from the press center where a sound system has been put in place.  One reporter also reasons that there isn’t much need for her to attend the sessions since the congressmen themselves do not do so.

Work and lifestyle
House reporters, especially those from the broadcast organizations, often cover events as a group. Radio journalists report on an hourly basis and “scoops” among them are rare.  Those in print can be more enterprising, depending on the reporter.

A tabloid reporter claims that he often does scoops but has to regulate it to maintain camaraderie among fellow reporters. He also points out that since he works for a tabloid, the type of stories he does is not the same as those of the broadsheets.

Even broadsheet reporters say that “scoops” are not common among them.

Reporters often do not stick to an eight-hour work schedule. Those in the broadcast media usually come in the morning. The more diligent ones arrive before 10 a.m. to cover the morning committee hearings. Most reporters arrive after lunch (when the committee meetings usually start) and will usually be occupied with their work until around 5 p.m. Most of them go home by 6 p.m. Those from the major broadsheets stay later. However, the reporters all say that they stay at the beat longer if needed, sometimes until 9 or 10 in the evening or until the story is done.

Post-coverage outings are common among some print reporters in the House. A tabloid writer said that he drinks with fellow journalists (and sometimes the person in charge of the press center) almost daily. Another reporter, however, says that he doesn’t do this. Those from radio have lunch or dinner from time to time whenever someone invites.  They also go to birthday parties of congressmen with whom they are friends.

There is also a weekly basketball game among the departments in Congress. This serves as another “bonding” opportunity for the male reporters.  They meet twice a week: Fridays for practice and on the day of the game itself.

On Thursdays, there are coffee shop forums. On Fridays, these are held at Rembrandt Hotel.

Print journalists are dressed casually; most of them are in jeans or slacks and polo shirts or blouses. They do not appear very rugged, except for the cameramen. Those from TV are in semi-formal attire.

The House beat does not have a press corps. There are, however, friendships and these are common among those who belong to the same medium.

News sources
Reporters point out that it is often the congressmen who are eager for exposure.  A tabloid reporter notes that those implicated in anomalies are the ones more difficult to reach, often not answering calls.

Press releases are aplenty at the House. On slow days, there are usually four or five releases. The left-leaning congressmen and party-list representatives are the most diligent at providing press releases, averaging three a day.  However, only less than 20 of the 236 representatives issue press releases.

Sometimes, as many as 30 press releases could be found on the press release table. One reporter says that if the press release is good enough, she doesn’t rewrite it anymore.  Another reporter says that press releases are often not useful to him since he writes for a business paper.

The House has two regular press conferences. On Mondays, members of the minority hold a buffet lunch.  The majority serves packed lunch during press conferences on Wednesdays which are held at Representative Prospero Nograles’s office. Some congressmen hold their own press conferences.

Gifts, goodies
The House provides the media with a press center which has two spacious rooms.  One contains the radio room, three telephone booths, and a television.  The radio reporters are provided with typewriters.  The other room, which is for print journalists and TV reporters, has around 20 computers for use by the journalists. Some also bring their own laptops. There is a telephone in the room, which the reporters also use for personal calls. Both rooms are air-conditioned. The reporters can also ask the press center to do errands.

The House does not provide meals to the reporters, although it used to five or six years ago. Cutting down on overall expenses, the House lowered the budget for media.

On Christmas, congressmen often give out calendars, cakes, fruits, and other goodies to members of the press. Party-list representatives are known to give native chocolate (tableya).  There are those who are “generous” but are said to number only few.  One reporter who admits to accepting gifts and money (“for transportation”) says she hasn’t received anything (“kahit singko”) in the two months that she has covered the House.  The reporters say there are probably those who have under-the-table deals but these would not be known by other journalists.

Comments are closed.