Cebu journalists and human rights advocates unite to deal with unethical reporting in a workshop geared toward selling accountable media practices and safeguarding the rights of weak sectors
CEBU, Philippines – Cebu-based journalists and human rights advocates exchanged concepts and experiences on the challenges of combating sensationalized and unethical reporting in a two-day workshop held on the College of Cebu Banilad Campus in Cebu Metropolis on December 6 and seven.
The Fee on Human Rights in Central Visayas (CHR 7) organized the workshop, entitled The Media, Human Rights, and Susceptible Sectors, as a part of a sequence of actions commemorating Nationwide Human Rights Consciousness Week from December 4 to 10, main as much as the seventy fifth anniversary of the Common Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
“Search the reality, report it and as a lot as doable decrease hurt to each events,” mentioned lawyer Arvin Odron, CHR Central Visayas regional director in his opening speech.
Odron highlighted the function of media in contributing to the social consciousness of the individuals and the significance of upholding ethics.
Lawyer Euvic Ferrer, chief of the Authorized Division of CHR Central Visayas, mentioned that the seminar was prompted by a radio broadcast interview involving a minor, which underscored the necessity to present informative discussions on ethics to media professionals to stop related occurrences
In March, media organizations and legal professionals in Cebu slammed the unethical conduct of Brigada Information FM broadcasters Dennes Tabar and Juril Patiño for interviewing a 4-year-old rape survivor and asking the kid to explain how she was abused.
Shaping the narrative
Lawyer Kristian Jacob Lora, just lately honored with the first-ever Built-in Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Human Rights Award for the Visayas, highlighted the significance of safeguarding the rights of the accused, together with the presumption of innocence and freedom from illegal coercion.
“These rights enshrined within the Structure are to not defend criminals however to protect the harmless from unjust condemnation and punishment…Walay panagbangi (There is no such thing as a conflict) between human rights and human life,” Lora mentioned.
Lora, a member of the Visayas Neighborhood Legislation Heart, has dealt with quite a few instances with rights activists. Considered one of his most up-to-date instances concerned CJ Matarlo and JM Tecson, who had been cleared of unlawful possession of firearms and explosives costs in November.
In the meantime, lawyer Noemi Abarientos, deputy government director of the Kids’s Authorized Bureau, Inc., emphasised the accountability of journalists to undertaking tales that empower survivors quite than dramatize their experiences. She cautioned towards reporting that sensationalized sexual violence and related incidents, which might additional victimize people.
“Violence isn’t merely linked to sexual want. It’s a social downside rooted in unequal energy dynamics, not simply impulses,” Abarientos mentioned.
Ge Ygay of the Cebu United Rainbow LGBT Sector, Inc. additionally mentioned the significance of utilizing empowering language within the media, stressing the necessity to keep away from derogatory presumptions, significantly when such particulars are irrelevant to the story.
Ygay identified the homophobic reactions from netizens had when speaking concerning the incident involving media persona Jude Bacalso who scolded a male restaurant worker in Ayala Heart Cebu on July 21.
On the incident, Ygay mentioned that the best way some experiences had been made, sowed extra hate towards the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood, quite than addressing the primary downside at hand.
Ygay harassed the significance of reporting correct tales with out misgendering or utilizing incorrect terminology, highlighting the media’s important function in shaping public opinion.
Navigating moral journalism
Amid the rising issues surrounding knowledge privateness, the second half of the seminar centered on the function of media as a pillar of democracy and the significance of sustaining a steadiness in reporting.
Lawyer and columnist Ian Vincent Manticajon reminded journalists to rigorously consider whether or not their tales serve the general public curiosity whereas avoiding pointless intrusions into particular person privateness.
Lawyer Rey Cris Panugaling, knowledge safety officer on the College of Cebu Medical Heart, mentioned journalists had a accountability in dealing with private info.
“Journalists should be certain that the good thing about disclosure outweighs the potential hurt,” he mentioned.
Reina Aureo, dditor-in-chief of Ang Suga publication, the official scholar publication of Cebu Regular College, mentioned that the facility that journalists have in spreading info will at all times include an equal accountability.
“Whereas we, the media, are tasked to tell the general public and maintain energy to account, this accountability should be exercised with a deep respect for people’ privateness, significantly when coping with delicate matters or weak teams,” the coed journalist mentioned. – Angel Religion Tirol/Rappler.com
Angel Religion Tirol is a Rappler intern from the Cebu Regular College in Cebu Metropolis.
