Warning the people

In this contemporary world, lots of news exist. However, not all these news are given importance in print and broadcast media. Like for example, news about environmental issues.

Environmental journalism are not given value as much as in politics, entertainment and current events. They are not given value in the sense that we rarely see news about environment on front page of a newspaper or in the headline of a broadcast news. We only see them in media when they are about disasters or calamities.

Another problem that I see in evironmental journalism is the way environmental issues are being reported. The problem in the reportage of these kinds of issues is that there is something lacking. Reports about a certain incident are not merely focused on the incident itself. Rather, they are focused on the victims. What I see in these kinds of news are sensationalism and exaggeration. I suggest that reporters should balance what they write. And they should not only report on what is obvious. What I mean here is that they should not only report what has happened and what is happening. They should also report on what will happen, this I think is the most important aspect in Environmental journalism. The environmental journalists should educate the people about a certain disaster or calamity. They should inform what the people need to know not what they want to know. They should give warning to the people.

Like for example, during these days, Philippines have been experiencing the "anger" of Mother Nature like erupting volcanoes, earthquakes, flashfloods etc. These things are reported in newspapers, radio and television. But the question is, Do reporters give information on the effects of these phenomena?... Are they warning the people?...Or are they just there to report on the obvious?

A "Free" Trip?

I have just read a news story in Inquirer this morning about the scheduled meeting of President Gloria Arroyo with Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican on June 26. It was clearly written in the story that it is not only the President who will meet the pope but fifty-five (55) other people including the first family will also travel with her. These 55-member delegation that will accompany Ms Arroyo on her trip is composed of different Cabinet members and Department executives. And not only that, some of them will be bringing their spouses along. Upon reading this news, several questions popped in my mind. These questions that bother me include 1) Why are they too many in such a one-week trip to Europe? 2) If the trip is for business, why do some delegates bring their spouse with them? 3) Where will they get the money for expenses?

The number of President Arroyo's delegation really bothered me. They are too many for a trip like that. And most probably, these people are not that important in the said meeting. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that these delegates just wanted to see the Pope in Vatican. For me, this reason is not acceptable, not valid. It is too personal. They just want to see the Pope and spend big amount of money for it? And whose money are they going to use?

Ermita said that the members of the executive branch are entitled with travel expenses and allowances. The others' expenses,according to him, will be charged to the funds of their respective agencies. With this statement, it is clear that the money to be used is not from the pocket of each delegates. I think it will come from the money of the people- their taxes. I'm sure these delegates have their big smile on their faces knowing that they will not spend a cent in their trip. For them it's "free". But did they even thought of the country's status nowadays? Why spend that big amount of money for personal intentions--for pleasure, when we all know that our country is experiencing economic crisis. Why couldn't these people see this?...Why couldn't President Arroyo see this?