I was interviewed with no less than the living legend of  Philippine Investigative Journalism, Ms. Cheche Lazaro. Woah. Together with Josel (AKA the guy who’s been getting tens and thousands of hits since this issue exploded), I was interrogated first regarding the Malu Fernandez issue. There was a bit of a mix up - they thought I had direct links to the content of Tinig.com — but I think I was able to address the issues well (well, I hope I didn’t misrepresent you guys in anyway). Also on hand were a magazine publisher  (whose name escapes me right now - she’s in no way related to People Asia), Alex Magno (a broadsheet columnist) and Ricky Carandang (blogger - and fresh from during the news from the other studio. Hehe. Bloggers weren’t exactly put in the good light (all the time - we were also under scrutiny) so I had to be on the defensive on certain issues that were hurled my way.
Here are the issues that were discussed.
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Was the reaction to the issue fair? Didn’t the bloggers and internet denizens react to the issue in such a crass and rabid manner that it become a bit hypocritical at the end of the day? Did we act like a huge lynch mob?
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Do bloggers have the responsibility to police the comments that their visitors leave? Should we prioritize the freedom of expression or should we be more compassionate?
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Are people more brave when they post opinions online? Does the fact that they can do it anonymously and without repercussions (i.e. facing the other person) aid in giving people extra courage.
How were these issues tackled? Just watch it later at 6 PM. I’ll be posting the replay schedules as soon as I get them. 
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[...] Benj’s The Post-Mortem: Media In Focus Technorati Tags: Malu [...]
Well duh, the blog is very interactive. There is an exchange of views, opinions in real time. If newspapers were just as interactive, I bet you they would have read/heard the outcries of the OFW. Also, this is the first time traditional media picked news from the blogs. It’s quite different. It’s not the traditional way of getting stories.
I’m sure you handled the issues well. Kaw pa. Buti na lang I’ve met Cheche Lazaro already, kundi saksakan ang inggit na nararamdaman ko sayo ngayon. :p
Alex Magno? Pfft!
#1 has a point. As Doc Tess said, it’s a case of a pot calling the kettle black. Oh sure, I gave in to cussing in the post I made about it on my Multiply. Initial reaction. Growing resentment eh. But I do think we bloggers generally could have handled the situation with more finesse, so to speak. In a far sense, yes, we acted like a lynch mob. I cringe at the comments left on my post in Multiply. Heck, I even cringe at the post itself. But then, how do you expect people to act anyway? I woyld think that the intense reaction of the public is understandable.
#2 is, well, ewan. On one hand, I value freedom of expression. Why would I show compassion (errrr…?) for a person who bastardized her own kind? I’m pretty sure people will just resort to cliches like “The Golden Rule” or some verses from their bible. I should know. I’ve experienced the same thing. Malu, on the other hand, exercised her “freedom of expression” on the mag, but trampling with other people’s being in the process. And she claims it’s acerbic wit. Nyeh!
#3 depends on the people AND the case. I, for one, am more “vocal” online. Mas madaldal ako, only because I can write better than I can speak. As for the others, I’m sure marami lang nagtitimpi dyan. Mas gusto pa nilang kaharap si Malu Fernandez kesa yung magsulat lang sa internet tungkol sa kanya. Lalo na ang mga OFW na tinitra niya. And in this case, may punto ang public for taking offense so there’s not even a need for anonymity (except na lang kung talagang ayaw mong magpakilala). Pero generally, yes, I think the internet provides people with extra “courage” for speaking their minds.
LYNCH MOB! lol
why, are we surprised? ABS has always been critical of new media (eg, blogging), unlike that other station where writers and reporters are actually encouraged to leverage blogging. Even for somebody like Cheche Lazaro, that might be a bit too daunting; issues on job security, etc, now why wouldnt she be daunted
Is there any way for Pinoy expats to see this show? Sana may mag-upload sa YouTube. What the hell was Alex Magno doing there? Spin doctoring for the administration? Taroosh!
Uuwi na kami ng lolo ko kaagad. He is interested sa Malu Fernandez issue at ituturo na rin kita hehe
We have more balls than the traditional media… that can also lead to carelessness.
Hmm… I guess I have to go home early to catch that show.
Too bad I only got to watch the second part of the show
But to answer your questions:
#1. I’d say some reacted fair to it while others went overboard. I said fair for those who reacted violently INITIALLY and for those who had more restraint. I would have understood those who made the more crude remarks at initial impact upon reading the article. But this issue has gone on for days. That would have been enough time to ponder about what we really think about the issue, think of what went wrong, and what could be done about it.
(To Shari: Yeah, it is understandable that people made some knee-jerk reactions to the issue. But people are expected to be rational because they are human beings. But obviously, some just choose to be parrots.)
What irked me most were the calls for violently harming her if they see her in person (and it is obvious from the tone of writing that they didn’t write this in jest). The question of these people’s capacity of committing such an act or if these are merely fantasies written out is already irrelevant. The idea that they want to physically harm that person and implying that they’d do so if given the chance, even if it will not make them criminally liable, is already disturbing. So, yes I think some did act so harshly and very much out of line. I like what Lorraine said about acting like human beings both online and offline. There shouldn’t be censorship in the internet BUT since we are human beings, we should still act accordingly, as what is expected of mature, responsible adults. I have to question the use of her term “compassion” though.
#2. I’m not much about moderating comments in blogs. Personally, I don’t delete comments. I’d let them rant if they want, but I do believe I retain the right to tell them to go if I find their comments offensive and annoying. If still they’re persistent and arrogant enough to disregard my notice, then I have the option to close the comments section.
This happened to my blog, specifically on the issue of Malu Fernandez. I told the commenters to refrain from being irrational and be more sensible. But somebody even arrogantly said that since the internet is free so he/she is also free to leave her comments in my blog, whether I like it or not. Now, that’s bullying. I told her that even if the internet is free, commenting on my blog is a privilege granted to him/her by me because I own the blog and I pay for my domain. If he/she wants to rant, then go to the numerous blogs that cater to those kind of rantings.
I think we should prioritize freedom of expression. It’s just that some people do not fully grasp the concept of freedom of expression. They mistake it for “absolute freedom”, which is actually non-existent.
#3. Yes. As I often say, those who leave the most scathing comments are often those who do not leave traces of their identities. Someone commented in a blog I read that, “why would anyone be stupid enough to leave their identity online, knowing the repercussions?” Well, there, he said it. It’s about fear of being identified and associated with what has been said. Some people just don’t have the courage to bear responsibility for what they say and do online. So, yes, anonymity may decrease inhibitions in people, which could be both good and bad, depending upon how the person wields it.
whoooatt!??? naks naman sikat! ^_^ grabe hanggang ngayong buhay parin ang Malu Fernandez issue.. hehehe.. sayang di kita napanood sa TV waaaaaaa! nalaman ko lang sa twitter na nasa TV ka pala
Tapos na si Malu Fernandez, si Joey vs Willie nanaman! para masaya! hehehe
Napanood ka namin ng lolo ko. Impressed siya sayo and asked me about your being atheist hehe. congrats!
Thank ulit sa plug at sa pagre-represent, Benj.
Kainis yung title ng episode, ha? At akala nila ang Tingog.com ay Tinig.com. At mukhang di nga familiar sa culture sa Internet yung iba sa kanila. Buti na lang, naroon si Ricky C.
@Jeff: Alam ko yata yung other station, hehe. :p
@sparks: Nagulat din ako na naroon siya. :p
Hi, I was able to watch the replay of your interview with Che-Che Lazaro in ANC a while ago.
Medyo natawa ako kasi medyo nahirapan si Che-Che na umisip ng euphemism para sa salitang “mataba.” Naniniwala ako na malaki talaga ang naging bahagi ng pagiging mataba ni Malu sa mga reaksyon ng mga bloggers. Pero may punto si Josel na kahit ano pa man ang hitsura ni Malu, e makakahanap at makakahanap pa rin tayo ng bagay na pwede nating gamitin laban sa kanya.
Sa aking palagay, e mas nagiging malakas ang loob ng tao kapag nagpopost ng opinyon sa internet dahil palagay ang loob niya na hindi siya matutunton. At dahil nakita ng ibang bloggers na maraming nagagalit at gumagawa ng mga hate post laban kay Malu, e lalo silang naging kampante na gumawa rin ng sarili nilang mga hate post.
Tama, medyo naging pangit ang tira ng mga bloggers. Pero mas mabuti na rin siguro ang ganuon kaysa magpatay malisya tayo.
Sa dulo, lahat tayo ay naging si Malu Fernandez. Kahit ako e guilty dito.
Hi Sir, i’m chika bugtas senior broadcast communication at UPd. i saw the link to your blog at yugatech. i’m doing a study about philippine podcasting. if you have time po, may i ask you to answer the ff questions po, kahit in bullet points lang po. you can email the answers at chikasci_bugtas@yahoo.com.ph
thank you so much for you time. god bless!
Name: (PODCAST LISTENER)
Age:
Degree:
Occupation:
Website:
1. Who introduced you to podcasting? How did you discover podcasting?
2. What are your favorite podcasts? Why? (Describe these podcasts)
3. What are your least favorite podcasts? Why? (Describe these podcasts)
4. How often do you listen to or download podcast sites?
5. How are you able to access podcasts?
6. Are you planning to put up your own podcast site? Why yes? Why not?
7. In what ways do you think can podcasting benefit the Filipino society?
8. Are there negative effects of podcasting to Filipinos? If yes, what are those?
9. Are you aware of any issues being thrown at podcasting? What are those? (Ex. Podcasting will kill radio broadcasting)
10. What’s your personal assessment on the status of podcasting in the Philippines?
11. Do you think podcasting will click in the Philippines? Why?
It’s weird seeing all this hatred and ill will towards Malu Fernandez. Yes she’s insulting and obnoxiously arrogant (an understatement?) but I couldn’t figure out why so many people would spend so much time thinking about and reacting to her views via blog posts and comments.
This unity has probably made bloggers feel superiour and impervious. some probably thought the more hateful the posts are the “cooler” they are.
It’s but right to criticize and vilify her, but to resort to below the belt attacks on her appearance- why stoop so low?
There are so many other political issues far deserving of our time. Like approaching the OFW issue and the deeper problems they underlie. Or looking at this incident in a deeper way.
and no I won’t be the first to start posting about this in a deeper way because I don’t have the time and I know so many other intelligent bloggers can do a better job- if they’ll try.
that said the unity shown by the bloggers is also amazing, and I applaud them for reacting to issue- ANY ISSUE AT ALL for that matter. Poli is right- better than at least being mum about it.
two words, young man
— well done.
Here are the links of Benj’s stint at Media in Focus.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Good job Benj! I watched the videos via YouTube posted on WordPress Pinoy Forums. Anyways, you did a good job of clarifying the difference of a lynch mob and the blogging community. From what I’ve seen, most of the harsh and graphic comments were made by the common people and not the bloggers.
Btw, I”m confused. Coz from what I know, you suggested the writing project in Tingog.com not Tinig.com right? Those are two different sites.
Job well done Benj! but i believe that the media people who were invited are somewhat hesitant to put the blame on Malu Fernandez and Manila Standard and instead focused on how the people reacted and branded it as lynch mob. Is that what you call, protecting your own??
Congrats for your cool-headed views during the interview. After watching you on the show and after being asked from my friend about the controversy, I decided to blog about it and posted it here: http://lestercavestany.com/?p=10
I know we’ve all heard a lot of reactions about this issue but if you could find time to read my post and write a comment, I would really appreciate it.
Cheers,
Lester