repost from my Internship Essay.
LIBEL – the most sinister crime a journalist could commit next to plagiarism. I do not know if it was sheer luck that brought me to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on a time when all they talked about was pressing charges against the Gutierrezes for an article on a gun-toting incident.
It was scary to see all writers, photographers and editors all talking, looking for loopholes, doing investigation on a case I am not familiar of. I did not know show business was to be taken that seriously as if the whole economy depended on it. Therefore, on that very first day I conclude that clichés are made for a purpose, ‘there’s really no business like show business’ was proven to be more true than what I bargained for.
The story of such a controversy that stayed unresolved even after my 161 hours in Summit was about the headline, pictures used and words that are misinterpreted in the article involving the Zorro Cast of GMA 7 primetime soap opera show. As a whole the story was further ‘storysized’. A ‘gun-toting incident’ leads the other members of the press and fans to believe that ‘tutukan ng baril’ happened.
LESSON ONE: It is important to use words that are for the public one serves but it is also important for the reader look it up when reading. Such a similarity between ‘toting’ and ‘tutukan’ made people think it is one and the same. Other members of the press should be responsible enough to correct such simple mistakes. Toting is carrying, holding at gunpoint is ‘tutukan’.
With a sentence that said ‘Richard was involved in a fracas’ heated things up since it made more people believe that Richard Gutierrez held a gun at gunpoint. Fracas sounded so severe it made a simple ‘titigan’ seem like a WWF Royal Rumble. Do not use words that sound too highfaluting if deemed unnecessary.
LESSON TWO: words used are very important. Storysizing is not as important as the truth. It is a word I now use for articles that are not wholly sensationalized but the delivery seems to want to call for attention even if the true content was just another conversation someone happened to eavesdrop on.
LESSON THREE: my profession at its highest standard comes before anything else. As written by Miss Jo-Ann, she said her kinship with them (Annabelle Rama) is essential but she must do what her profession calls for. You cannot say sorry for something you did not do. Money or friendship must not buy your credibility. Retraction in the case of a writer alienates all readers from his or her credibility. So stand up for what you have written, no matter what.
LESSON FOUR: online news is international. It reaches the farthest point on the globe, considering the different timelines, even a 5-minute uploaded article can make the big difference. Read and reread articles before uploading
I have experienced going to a scheduled meet-and-greet with the set of Totoy Bato at 9am and stayed until 9pm without being entertained by the main protagonist, Robin Padilla himself.
LESSON FIVE: in many circumstances, journalists are irked by people, the situation or even the data we get from sources. We must not falter, look for other sources.
LESSON SIX: writing requires good angling. My writing skills are thoroughly tested since being a staff writer in PEP.PH editorial board requires good story angling.
I was forced to look for a new angle on a transcribed interview from a known artist who is launching a new album. With the preface of the album, her life story and her lover’s story already told it was time to talk about her new bag, or her new shoes or her new filled pouty lips. It is very essential to maximize a 5-minute one-on-one interview as much as one can.
LESSON SEVEN: Being an online medium requires an hour by hour check on goings on in media, a good example of PEP.PH breaking news was the story of Marian Rivera being the new GMA-7 Darna which was posted an hour before the 24 ORAS flash report tells the story of an on-going party of the mystery Darna hence, we even got the scoop from its very roots before the roots even had the chance to grow their plants.
LESSON EIGHT: online media is not fireproof, hackers are the enemy. This occurred this week of May when a PEPSTER (someone who is an avid reader of PEP, has an account and types down comments in the comments page) reports an incident of his/her username being used by someone he/she does not know. It so happens that five PEPSTERS reported the same event to the Moderator. Alarmed by the situation, the Editorial Assistant calls the technician to look for glitches made. The Moderator in the meantime is dumb-stricken by the wisecrack who hacked our network. After an hour, everything goes back to normal. Next day however, our own Moderator cannot access the CMS code for comment moderating and uploading articles. Five computers cannot access the CMS. This is of great importance since, of course, it is considered the central operating unit of the portal. The moderator is now looking for loopholes for the past few days since the incident of internet crashes are frequently happening.
LESSON NINE: the basics of working relations. In my stay in PEP.PH, I must admit I have not been who I was. I was actually lost at what I have to be or do, with the notion in my head that I am an intern and chumming up with the bosses may be equated to sucking up for an uno to your professor. There was this one time I can never forget when it was 4pm in the afternoon and suddenly the whole editorial staff was going up the 7th floor pantry. Apparently, there’s a small ‘salu-salo’ but who am I to include myself in the roster for invites? Naturally, with a gurgling stomach I refuse to go without anyone’s initiative of calling me, especially from my immediate boss. But no, there were no invites except when they all came down and asked me why I was not there, what can I tell them? All the same, I said that I was full and I’m so preoccupied with rushing my article that I did not notice them leaving. It was for me still the best way to act at that certain situation since you can never invite yourself in a place where you are not in the position to self-invite.
LESSON TEN: All lessons I’ve learned are from both sides, hearing the side of the press involved, the press writing about it, the involved people in the story and the by-standing fans and people. It made me look at journalism in another perspective. It doesn’t matter on what beat you are in, all-in-all you have to be diligent. Be a responsible journalist and you’re good to go.
