Inday Varona: A personal appeal to PDI (or, When is an apology not an apology?)

This post is written by my nth degree cousin Inday Espina Varona (our common ancestor- Graciano Lopez y Jaena).  She is chairwoman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and editor in chief of the newsweekly Philippine Graphic. The article speaks for itself and needs no further explanation.

Dear friends from the Philippine Daily Inquirer,

If I ruffle some feathers, forgive me in advance. Take this as a letter of protest from the daughter of a woman felled by stroke and the colleague of many journalists who’ve suffered the same.

My Nanay was a beautiful woman with the classic Asian face, a perfect oval with high cheekbones and a firm chin. She was not prone to dramatics. She did not need that; her eyes – and her words – guaranteed people listened to her, even when they did not want to. She was the nurturer in the family, the doctor content to walk behind her journalist-husband. Then stroke felled Nanay and forced her into a slow, year-long recovery. There was a period of hope before a series of smaller but successive strokes weakened her to the point of no return.

So I have seen, up close and personal, the anger and frustration of a recovering stroke patient, seen the rage that erupts now and then when memories of strength and brilliance and eloquence crash against the formidable bars of a new reality. I saw Dad dive into the reversal of roles, never resenting the tantrums from a woman he had long regarded as a saint. I saw him cry silently when Nanay slept, not because he was tired — though he was — but because he saw how she suffered – even with her vaunted humility.

 And then I see your FRONT PAGE.

A series of pictures that, forgive me, seem to exist for nothing else but to make a laughing stock of Demetrio Vicente.

I have tried to look at the photos from different angles, hoping to see some significance that would make your action more understandable. I see absolutely no extenuating circumstance.

Then you give us a one-paragraph “apology”, which isn’t that at all. You apologize for hurting people’s feelings. You do not apologize for bad judgment and taste better fit for the gutter.

You conveniently forget to cite what great and noble cause prompted you to chuck out the admonition of the PDI Stylebook. That sacred document clearly states that you must weigh every controversial photo and ensure that, “the positive reasons for publishing the photos outweigh the almost certain negative reaction they will elicit from a sizeable portion of the readership.”

If you totally forgot about this document, then please  say so.

Today’s “sin” is not, in the scheme of things, equal to plunder or murder by government officials. Not by a long shot. But journalists, whom people look up to for help in parsing oft-befuddling facts of life, do have an obligation not to unnecessarily compound the chaos they feel.

Stroke, friends, is among the top killers in this country. Your newspaper has reported on this – second only to heart attack. The survivors face horrendous challenges on the road to recovery. And some never do fully recover.

Even if just on account of all our parents, kin, lovers, colleagues – and you have had one heart-wrenching case that galvanized the goodwill of this nation – and with the thought that all of us may, one day, face the same hardships visited on Mr. Vicente, please summon the grace for a genuine apology.

You see, there is no shame in admission of an error. There is only honor there. Conversely, there can be no pride in false “I Am Sorry’s”. The last thing you want is comparison to a certain woman with a neck brace.

Peace.

Twenty-Six Years Ago...

I remember that night as clearly as if it happened yesterday. It was about 7 PM and we were all gathered at the table after dinner listening to what was happening in Manila on the radio. Then, we heard it..."wala na si Marcos" (Marcos is gone)...we all looked at each other as if to check if we all heard it right. Then I saw my dad for the first time ever in my life, with tears in his eyes and in a quivering voice saying, we are free.  My mom started crying and suddenly everyone was laughing (and crying all at the same time), cheering, jumping and hugging each other.  We all climbed into our car and drove to the town center, where the church bells were ringing, people streaming into the street in their night clothes (just like us), some did not even bother to put their dentures on!  There was a lot of clapping, cheering, hugging and pure joy in everybody's face.  The police kept a respectful distance but some were also waving and clapping.  That was our shining moment...a time where hope rose like a phoenix in people's hearts.  It was a time for change...a time when everything was possible...a new beginning.  I can still remember that feeling of expectation and relief.  But 26 years after EDSA, questions remain unanswered and life for majority of Filipinos have not improved.  What happened to the hope and promise of EDSA?  Where has it gone?  Can we ever bring it back?

Where Are You, Mr. President?

Typhoon Sendong (International name: Washi) devastated the city of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan in Eastern Mindanao and severely affected parts of Negros Oriental in Eastern Visayas.  In the aftermath, huge number of casualties (650+ as of this writing), scores missing and presumed dead and hundreds of thousands left homeless. And where was the Philippine President? 

Retrieved from http://twitpic.com/7v0gp3 by Joseph Morong

Yes, you read it right...he was at a party.  Was it okay? NO.  Not when hundreds of people, whole families even have been found dead and missing on that same day. The President and his advisers may say that the agencies in charge have been mobilized, local executives are in control, etc... yes, BUT for a disaster and tragedy as huge as this, the leader of the country needs to be there, to be seen and heard...to reassure people and to suffer with the those whose lives have been changed forever. I equate this devastation with that of Hurricane Katrina in the US where large parts of the city of New Orleans were literally leveled to the ground.  Was the US President visible and on top of the situation? Definitely.

I know that there is nothing the government can do now to prevent what happened and we can only help in the aftermath but for a leader to project a sense of apathy or indifference or what...is for me unforgivable. I do not mean to trivialize a tragedy of any proportion but this is not a bus accident, for goodness sake!  A few persons suggested that perhaps he did not want people to compare him with GMA and her photo-ops, or for people to "snicker" or make a "heck" out of whatever he does.  Should he care what people say in this heart-breaking, gut-wrenching tragedy? I think not when you are doing the right thing.

There is nothing wrong with delegating roles, duties and responsibilities. A good leader does that but, this is not one of those things you delegate.  In a major crisis, there is a real need for the physical presence of a leader. This is one of those times in the history of a country that doubts about political motives should be set aside. It is not time to think of yourself.

The President has disappointed us once more.  He did it during the Luneta hostage fiasco and again, now.  How many more tragedies before this president finally decides to make himself do real work as the leader of the country. 

Ethics In Philippine Media

The Philippine media is one of the most open, free and powerful press in the world.  But this freedom and power is also often abused, misused and corrupted.  I know what I am talking about having been reviled and maligned by unscrupulous talk radio commentators who call themselves "media" often enough in the past and present time.  Of course, I never respond to them having kept in mind the very good advice of a friend who is also a media practitioner, to never react to what talk radio says because by reacting, you add fuel to the fire. Besides that, Filipino press is not guided by any ethical standard, so why bother?

But to my surprise...no...shock is a better word...there is a Philippine Journalist's Code of Ethics which was formulated by the Philippine Press Institute and National Press Club and adopted by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and a KBP Broadcast Code established in 2007! 

Journalist's Code of Ethics (Philippines)

I. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.

II. I shall not violate confidential information on material given me in the exercise of my calling.

III. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents, and shall properly identify myself as a representative of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication.

IV. I shall refrain from writing reports that will adversely affect a private reputation unless the public interest justifies it. At the same time, I shall fight vigorously for public access to information.

V. I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the performance of my duties, nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature that may cast doubt on my professional integrity.

VI. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.

VII. I shall not, in any manner, ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.

VIII. I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.

IX. I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow journalist.

X. I shall accept only such tasks as are compatible with the integrity and dignity of my profession, invoking the conscience clause when duties imposed on me conflict with the voice of my conscience.

XI. I shall conduct myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should be my watchword.

 2007 KBP Broadcast Code Preamble

WE BELIEVE

THAT broadcasting in the Philippines should reflect the hopes and
dreams of a freedom loving people;

THAT broadcasting is a powerful medium in shaping our country's
cultural, social and economic growth and development;

THAT broadcasting, because of its immediate and lasting impact on the
public, demands of its practitioners a high sense of responsibility,
morality, fairness and honesty at all times.

THAT broadcasting has an obligation to uphold the properties and
customs of civilized society, maintain the respect of the rights and
sensitivities of all people, preserve the honor and the sanctity of
the family and home, protect the sacredness of individual dignity,
and promote national unity.

As I read through the full text of the KBP Broadcast Code 2007, I could only shake my head in disbelief.  Does any broadcaster follow this?  Because listening to commentators and blocktimers in radio for example, it seems to me that either many are not aware of the code or if they are, then they are willfully disregarding or violating it.    Television and print media are not much better either in reporting the news. Oftentimes, to beat their deadlines, the article (print or TV) that they put out may contain biases or rash inferences. This has happened many times to me, that they would print only one side of the story and write some kind of disclosure that they were not able to get my side because I could not be contacted.  But the truth is, I was never contacted, and because a deadline had to be met, then whatever "news" they can get even if these contain half-truths or taken out of context, gets printed or reported. This to me is a perfect example of unethical practice.  News reporters have the big responsibility to provide the reading public with accurate and impartial news. There is no room for errors in news, no guesses should be made, all the information should be double checked. I understand that competition is tough, but fair and responsible journalism should not be sacrificed in the name of sales or ratings. Sensationalism is really bad journalism.

The two codes outlined above need to be well implemented but, I guess like the laws of the country, they too are treated as suggestions. KBP tries, but it can only sanction its members and so, if you're not one...you can get away with almost anything. The best solution is self-regulation but unfortunately, in this country that remains just an ideal. Another area which I perceive may help in promoting ethical practices is just compensation for all media practitioners. I know that many of my media friends are paid salaries that are too low for the kind of work that they do. If news organizations want good and ethical news writers and reporters, then they should pay them well. This ensures that their loyalty is only to the organization they belong to, and no one else.