The Primer: Media In Focus is a show that deals WITH the media - on how is a story being reported — and less about what the story is to begin with. But this is a special case. The issue probably fell under this show’s criteria because the person at the center of this commotion is herself a member of the media.

I didn’t exactly keep this as a secret (haha), but if you have been reading my tweets and posts this past week, you would know that I’ll be taping for this week’s episode of Media In Focus at the ABS-CBN News Channel Studios tomorrow afternoon. The topic of the hour-long talk show will be the now explosive Malu Fernandez controversy that stemmed from a) the rudely discriminatory tone of the lifestyle writer’s article on her encounters with Overseas Filipino Workers and b) the general public’s inability to appreciate her acerbic wit. The guests for the program will probably be the journalists from the daily broadsheets, some NGOs who look after OFWs, probably Malu herself and yes, bloggers! It must be noted that other bloggers like Nick of Tingog and Kapuso Ederic of Tinig were also asked to participate but both begged off due to different reasons. I was told that Sassy Lawyer and Josel (more than 1900+ comments!) will be there as well.

Here are the possible issues:

1. Did Malu Fernandez exercise proper discretion in writing the article (and corresponding follow-up) ? Is there really such a thing as target audiences? Are the rules of ethics blurred or relaxed when it comes to writing entertainment or lifestyle pieces compared to straight news and more high brow columns?
2. Is the writer’s publication culpable in anyway? Does the concept of command responsibility apply in cases of acerbic wit gone-out-of-hand/ distasteful writing devoid of wit?
3. How did the media deal with the issue? Was the media reaction late or was the story just not big enough for mainstream media to pick up before the actual explosion of the issue? How should the media cover such stories in the future? Should it wait until an issue reaches fever pitch before taking action?

Obviously, those issues are outside the realm of yours truly and I’ll let the journalists, lawyers and Malu to figure out those things for themselves. I was invited to be a guest for my suggestion to start a writing project. Therefore, I will have to verbalize my concerns as a blogger who in my own little way took part in this massive cyber-indignation rally we launched against Malu’s article.

1. Has blogging emerged as a legitimate and more importantly, significant avenue for people to voice out their dissent and opinions? It must be emphasized that this is the first time that bloggers are being cited as one of the bigger players in this developing story. Have we really gained enough cred to hold enough authority to somehow police the mainstream media by a)whistle-blowing on the incidents of unfair journalism and b)direct them into more news-worthy stories? (the story of Pyro comes to mind) Have we truly arrived as a new and emerging flank of Philippine media or is this a mere fluke?
2. What polices the blogging community from similarly hateful comments directed at people bloggers choose to crucify? Should there be a mechanism to also check the abuses that bloggers commit? A deluge of very personal attacks have come Malu Fernandez’ way and it’s clear that those comments do nothing as far as enhancing the degree of discussion is concerned.Do bloggers have the responsibility of policing their own commenters?

So there. Wish me luck. It will be shown tomorrow at 6.

Update: They just asked me on how I wanted to be introduced - I just told them to say that I’m Benj, a 22 year-old medical student, collegiate debater and blogger at Atheista.net. Hehe

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Comments ( 14 )

[…] at 6:00 PM, Benj with other bloggers and journalists and possibly Malu Fernandez will appear in Media In Focus at […]

Lessons Learned From Malu Fernandez » Touched by an Angel » added these pithy words on Aug 30 07 at 11:10 am

6?! Ang aga Wala pa ako sa bahay nun. Alam mo kung ano ang replay scheds?

Jon Limjap added these pithy words on Aug 29 07 at 6:11 pm

Those are great points to talk about. Good luck, man.

And oh, Malu’s gonna be there? Iiiinteresting.

It certainly has gone out of hand in my opinion. Youtube videos have been popping out left and right just recently about the issue. And it’s not pretty. And I think it just got worst than the name-calling, some vloggers even included jingles, and pictures about her weight (images of pigs mostly). Some are kinda disturbing already. To think that these people exerted effort on manipulating her photos and editing videos just to throw out such negativity is beyond just initial reaction, people are really pissed.

Or maybe it’s just the bandwagon of the season.

Coy added these pithy words on Aug 29 07 at 6:23 pm

Batiin mo na lang ako on air. Hehe.

Eto ang isa sa mga maaaring tanong sa mga blogger hinggil sa approach nila sa mga isyung gaya ng sa kontrobersiyang Malu Fernandez:

Sa mga gaya kong pinapayagan ang automatic posting ng comments, okay lang ba ang ganito, na kahit ano ay maaaring i-post ng mga bisita? O dapat bang i-moderate at piliin ang comments na ilalabas? Mukhang usapin na naman ito ng freedom of expression at responsibility.

Ederic added these pithy words on Aug 29 07 at 6:25 pm

Good luck to you, Benj! Show them what wit is.
@Jon: That means I’ll have to cut short my workout so I could be home before 6pm and beat my mom to the TV. Haha. Sana may replay…

@Coy: It’s a wonder why some people, knowing that they can be rational human beings, would choose not to use such capability and instead, regress to being immature, self-centered, deranged persons. If it were knee-jerk reaction, perhaps it can be understandable. But this isn’t knee-jerk reaction anymore.

Prudence added these pithy words on Aug 29 07 at 6:54 pm

@benj, Please corroborate if Manila Standard is choosing to keep her column or not. As of this writing, there’s some evidence that Manila Standard has not chosen to act on her resignation letter.

@Coy, please see if you can possibly upload the important portions to youtube..

Nick added these pithy words on Aug 29 07 at 7:00 pm

Sana merong makarecord ng palabas. ^_^ I’ll be cheering for you Benj! Show them what bloggers are made of! haha!

Karlo.PinoyBlogero added these pithy words on Aug 29 07 at 7:20 pm

am sure there is a replay. and someone could upload to youtube. I will be rooting for you even if I am not there. Update us via twitter din.

noemi added these pithy words on Aug 29 07 at 7:28 pm

@Nick: Sayang nasira yung pang-record namin dito.
I just found out an OFW friend from Dubai who came here like a month ago has not left the country yet. Too bad her number is in my busted phone.

Coy added these pithy words on Aug 29 07 at 9:43 pm

Here’s to more traffic the Atheista.net’s way! Hehehe.

Wow. At first I’m on the defensive when it comes to most people’s negative and impulsive reactions. But reactions until now? It can only be two things: (1) they’ve just heard of the news and are exercising the so-called “knee-jerk” reaction; or (2) they’re really immature. The issue has died down already (or it’s supposed to). Putting more insult to injury is just plain… tama kayo, immature.

Go kuya benj! Do a shoutout ulet sa Pinoy Blogging Community! =)

JM added these pithy words on Aug 29 07 at 11:46 pm

Sock it to ‘em, Benj.

ganns added these pithy words on Aug 30 07 at 7:40 am

goodness, I’ll definitely miss that one out for I have a class.. hopefully, someone will be kind enough to upload it. ^^*

I hope Malu “learns” her lesson well.

Lalon added these pithy words on Aug 30 07 at 7:47 am

A simple response from the newspaper would’ve mollified the people. But they choose to remain silent, apart from columnists B. Austero and C. Veneracion.

Maybe they think this will all blow over soon and everyone will forget about it. Kasi nga naman ang Pinoy daw madaling makalimot.

But this media unfolds in real-time, available for all and sundry to read 24/7 non-stop…in theory, until kingdom come. Or until US servers are nuked. That is the difference between old media - newspapers and TV spots. The messages they give are fleeting, once delivered they are gone. But our blogs, forums and mailing lists? They deliver the message and the message is there to stay ’til we decide to close shop. Ah well. Sagutin ang hamon ng Manila Standard Today.

Benj, if she really wrote that resignation letter, and she truly wants to quit, then MST can’t force her to stay. Maybe you can ask her about that.

sparks added these pithy words on Aug 30 07 at 10:32 am

sana pala nagpresent ako nung naghahanap ka ng makakasama kaso baka mapagkamalang star search ang Media in Focus kung kasali ako dun. Saka magkalat lang ako.

Anyway, good luck and try kong panoorin mamaya.

billycoy added these pithy words on Aug 30 07 at 12:43 pm

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