There is more than one lesson that can be learned from the story of the Moth and the Lamp.
Observing the SONA of President Benigno C. Aquino and the different reactions is an interesting exercise in observation. It was a rainbow of exaltations, denounciations, and the usual ho-hums. The reference to the RH Bill was a girth too wide that will prompt different interpretations based on who you are talking to. Still the FOI no meention - although in the twittersphere it was mentioned by Manuel Quezon III that it was up for deliberation at the Committee level. No mention of de-criminalizing libel. Oh well.
What is interesting and consistent in the speech though is again the call from Malacanang and its supporters to feature more positive news about the Philippines. This is interesting. This seems to be a consistent call. It was not ambigous and nor was it meandering but straight to the point. A few months ago the President made the same speech and made reference to local crustaceans. And this seems to be an argument to be mimicked again ad again.
Each administration has had its shares of naysayers and critics from the beginning of time. In the movie the Ten Commandments the critics and rebels of Moses were given the divine treatment, Dathan and his group were swallowed by the Earth. I am quite sure that eacch sitting administration will at one point in time wished they had that kind of power at their command.
Although the Philippine Government has its own set of powers that it may choose to use and aside from that Malacanang itself has at its disposcal an army of government publications and broadcastings assets that can be used to spread their gospel.And again aside from that a reading of the differenet media and media channels would reveal that Malacanang has its own ser of allies.
So why the consistent call for positive news? Why thhe never-ending call against perceived nay-sayers, pessimists and contrarians in Philippine Society ?
Does media have to report or talk only about the true, the good and the beautiful according to Malacanang?
Will the opposite or even contrarian view scupper a good idea or plan sponsored from Malacanang? Will it not survive scrutiny and test of diverse opinion?
What is the role of media in nation building? In building a democratic nation where ideas and beliefs more diverse than the known colors of the rainbow?
Does it help that Malacanang and its allies can be at times onion-skinned?
Ideas and policies have to withstand the scrutiny of different opinions and views. In the end it is the reader: the viewer: the citizen who will decide whether the story is valid or not.
One cannot demand nor decree positive new, at least not in our present state of government (Even in th most autocratic ones stories and ideas have a tendency to come out in the open). Otherwise the country would wind up-like the ill-fated flight empowered Icarus who go top close to the Sun.
What was it that Oliver Cromwell said to the painter doing his portrait?
Mr. Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it. - Oliver Cromwell
Of course Oliver Cromwell said and did a numher of things as well. Executed a King, dissolved Parliament, and forbade dancing. But again to paraphrase Cromwell paint me Warts and all.
*****
THE 2012 JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD
On a different matter, the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) will be awarding the best journalist from print, broadcast and online media for 2012. The MBFI recently signed a memorandum of agreement and partnered with the Probe Media Foundation Inc (PMFI) to administer the Journalist of the Year (JOY)Award. Watch out for further news about the 2012 JOY Award.
MBFI Executive Director Nicanor L. Torres, Jr., MBFI Executive Vice President Elvira Ong Chan, MBFI President Aniceto M. Sobrepeña, PMFI Founder and Trustee Cheche Lazaro, PMFI Vice President Twing Macaraig, and PMFI Executive Director Yasmin Mapua-Tang.
The Positive News Syndrome
There is more than one lesson that can be learned from the story of the Moth and the Lamp.
Observing the SONA of President Benigno C. Aquino and the different reactions is an interesting exercise in observation. It was a rainbow of exaltations, denounciations, and the usual ho-hums. The reference to the RH Bill was a girth too wide that will prompt different interpretations based on who you are talking to. Still the FOI no meention - although in the twittersphere it was mentioned by Manuel Quezon III that it was up for deliberation at the Committee level. No mention of de-criminalizing libel. Oh well.
What is interesting and consistent in the speech though is again the call from Malacanang and its supporters to feature more positive news about the Philippines. This is interesting. This seems to be a consistent call. It was not ambigous and nor was it meandering but straight to the point. A few months ago the President made the same speech and made reference to local crustaceans. And this seems to be an argument to be mimicked again ad again.
Each administration has had its shares of naysayers and critics from the beginning of time. In the movie the Ten Commandments the critics and rebels of Moses were given the divine treatment, Dathan and his group were swallowed by the Earth. I am quite sure that eacch sitting administration will at one point in time wished they had that kind of power at their command.
Although the Philippine Government has its own set of powers that it may choose to use and aside from that Malacanang itself has at its disposcal an army of government publications and broadcastings assets that can be used to spread their gospel.And again aside from that a reading of the differenet media and media channels would reveal that Malacanang has its own ser of allies.
So why the consistent call for positive news? Why thhe never-ending call against perceived nay-sayers, pessimists and contrarians in Philippine Society ?
Does media have to report or talk only about the true, the good and the beautiful according to Malacanang?
Will the opposite or even contrarian view scupper a good idea or plan sponsored from Malacanang? Will it not survive scrutiny and test of diverse opinion?
What is the role of media in nation building? In building a democratic nation where ideas and beliefs more diverse than the known colors of the rainbow?
Does it help that Malacanang and its allies can be at times onion-skinned?
Ideas and policies have to withstand the scrutiny of different opinions and views. In the end it is the reader: the viewer: the citizen who will decide whether the story is valid or not.
One cannot demand nor decree positive new, at least not in our present state of government (Even in th most autocratic ones stories and ideas have a tendency to come out in the open). Otherwise the country would wind up-like the ill-fated flight empowered Icarus who go top close to the Sun.
What was it that Oliver Cromwell said to the painter doing his portrait?
Mr. Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it. - Oliver Cromwell
Of course Oliver Cromwell said and did a numher of things as well. Executed a King, dissolved Parliament, and forbade dancing. But again to paraphrase Cromwell paint me Warts and all.
*****
THE 2012 JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD
On a different matter, the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) will be awarding the best journalist from print, broadcast and online media for 2012. The MBFI recently signed a memorandum of agreement and partnered with the Probe Media Foundation Inc (PMFI) to administer the Journalist of the Year (JOY)Award. Watch out for further news about the 2012 JOY Award.
MBFI Executive Director Nicanor L. Torres, Jr., MBFI Executive Vice President Elvira Ong Chan, MBFI President Aniceto M. Sobrepeña, PMFI Founder and Trustee Cheche Lazaro, PMFI Vice President Twing Macaraig, and PMFI Executive Director Yasmin Mapua-Tang.