To UST: Online Media is the Future

**The following article also appears in blogwatch.tv

For me, the most important thing the internet gave us is voice, thus, allowing ordinary citizens to express their views and opinions in blogs and in social networking sites. The internet has evolved from a mere connecting tool to a platform of exchange of ideas and opinions. With the wide array of information fleeting from user to user, netizens have also evolved from merely chatmates to a new breed of responsible citizens collecting together of what was known today as new media.

I do not consider myself as a journalist simply because I have no degree in journalism nor have I enrolled myself in such courses. The only journalism background I had was during high school when I Used to write and compete for our school newspaper but then again that is completely amateur. I am a blogger and I am confident and proud to say that I use the internet in order to engage with other users and opine on several relevant issues. Maybe I am underqualified but nonetheless, my voice being heard satisfies myself beyond what I expect. Writing my blog and for Blog Watch, however, I admit that in effect, I might be an online journalist no matter how much I don’t want to label myself as such.

As a “de facto online journalist”, therefore, you cannot blame me if I took offense from the arrogance the University of Santo Tomas displayed in itsstatement defending Chief Justice Renato Corona’s doctorate degree. I take offense simply because the statement itself is bullying and I refused to be bullied.

Though the attack may not be personally directed to me, UST ridiculed online journalism and its potential in developing the current state of Filipino journalism. Questioning the credibility of online journalists is out of the original argument in the first place but they continue by asserting that they are at a loss in considering online journalism having the same weight as mainstream ones. UST tries to act as an authority in journalism and starts to lambast online written commentaries yet forgets to check the quality of their journalism as reflected by their official publication. What is the credibility of an institution that allows its publication to resort to name-calling rather than arguing by pure logic? What is the credibility of an institution wherein faculty members writing for dailies try to impute malice in a supposedly straight-forward news article? This power-tripping definitely tries to discredit and bullies netizens rather than addressing the topic in question.

 

Online netizens may not be as qualified as the tenured UST faculties but they can provide raw, unbiased facts far from commercially spun ones they present in the mainstream media. Between the mainstream and online journalism, the latter provides a more precise reflection of public opinion. Between the two, the latter moves relatively frictionless and therefore can be easily disseminated. Credibility is not imputed by any authority; it is the reader’s judgment call as how Ms. Noemi Dado see it. Acclaimed Filipino journalist Maria Ressa recognizes the new media’s potential and asserts that both medium can go hand-in-hand in improving the current trends in news reporting and commentary making. What UST did is that they tried to create a rift between the two . As a netizen, I refuse to accept that. If they want to continue their shallow power-tripping, they may want to realize that right now, internet is the trend and continues to expand exponentially. Online media is the future— and UST should learn how to deal with it.

Senator Pia's statement vs. hoax messages

Within these past few days, we have been witnesses to how efficient technology, specifically the social networking sites, in information dissemination. Moments after the Tsunami hit Japan's East Coast last Friday, my Twitter timeline became flooded with informations. However, these informations may or may not be true, depending to the sources where it came from. Few days ago amidst the radiation scare, the country was alerted by messages indicating that there will be a radiation rain that will happen around 4PM. While the traditional form of media clears this again and again, the scare had established a confusion already resulting to the suspension of classes of a university in Manila and several schools outside the Metro. Thus, as we have been a witness of the efficiency of technology in spreading news, we also endanger ourselves in spreading viral information with no factual basis.

Below is the press release of Senator Pia Cayetano on hoax messages titled When in Doubt, Don't Spread it. Listen to the Experts!

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today advised the public not to panic over hoax text messages that started circulating this week spreading rumors that deadly radiation from earthquake-stricken nuclear plants in Japan had already reached Philippine territory and is directly threatening the health and safety of Filipinos.

“People should remain calm and vigilant by staying abreast of news developments instead of panicking over baseless text messages such as those warning of radiation and acid rain allegedly caused by the nuclear plant incidents in Japan that had supposedly reached our country,” said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on health and Demography.  

 “Let us use instant messaging technology to share useful information only, and not to contribute to social anxiety by forwarding unscientific and baseless rumors. In case of doubt as to the source and veracity of any information we receive, we should simply not spread it. Instead, we should refer to official advisories from known authorities such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), PAGASA and the Philippine Nuclear Research institute (PNRI) which are regularly reported through the media.

“Suffice it to say, these government agencies should always be pro-active in educating and informing the people on these issues and should never allow rumor-mongers to overtake them.” #

Demented Little Boy joins the call against hoax messages. As like any other developments of technology, we should be responsible enough in handling our messaging platforms and our social networking account. Let us not spread false messages because it causes unnecessary panic which in turn takes toll on our own precious resources. 

xoxo