Rational Insanity
By Bryan Argos

Journalism's should knows

The world of mass media itself is a world of challenges. One need not isolate a certain media to determine the gravity of challenges in mass media. The challenges in broadcast media are the same as those in print media, the only difference is the way they affect mass media in general and the sources from where these challenges originate.

Let us consider the common challenge of gathering data for a newscast or a news article: the single challenge is to be able to accurately supply appropriate data for a particular newscast or news article; in this illustration let us surmise that the data gathered for the news article was not accurate and the more accurate report came from the newscast. Such a situation would affect the mass media in general, but at different degrees. Since there are more people reached by television than by newspaper, the appropriate reaction of the public to that particular article would be more appropriate coming from those viewing the newscast than from those reading the newspaper. This is an illustration of how a particular challenge in mass media could be present in different media but have a different effect on mass media in general. To further illustrate my point, let us consider the origin of the particular challenge of gathering data.

When we conduct a first hand interview on live national television, the statements issued by the interviewee are “prima facie” statements, on the other hand, if we gather data for a news article, our origins might be a witness to an event, an assistant of a particular politician, or some other source of second-hand information; owing to the busy schedules of journalists, some may even just conduct an interview over the phone or write an article based on available information of an event that has already occurred a day or two before. Although I am not generalizing that news articles are less accurate compared to first-hand televised interviews, I must say that the origins of data in print media are at greater risk of being faulty.

The main benefit of print media is how journalists pay great attention to detail to compensate for the faultiness of data origins. So, a journalist will spend more time gathering data, interview more people, and validate his report a number of times before sending it off to print. Such is also true because once the article is printed; the journalist or the writer of that particular article is the only wall that stands between the subject of the issue and a libel suit for the newspaper company.

The groundwork laid; let us first familiarize ourselves with the barriers to effective communication before discussing the specific challenges. The barriers to effective communication as discussed in the University of the Philippines ' Development Communication, Concepts and Approaches are classified as technical barriers, semantic barriers, and effectiveness barriers.

Technical barriers are barriers that affect the accuracy of transmission of the message, semantic barriers affect the precision of the conveyance of the meaning of a message and effectiveness barriers affects how a received meaning influences behavior. Another way of classifying barriers to effective communication is as follows: Channel Noise, Environmental Factors, Socio-psychological barriers, and semantic noise.

Based on these barriers to effective communication we can now deduce the different challenges in journalism. Taking into account these barriers and considering my experience in the field, I would say that the challenges of journalism are, according to the order in which they occur, 1) The challenge of finding a topic for an article, 2) Deciding which angle to take in tackling the selected issue or topic, 3) Gathering data for that particular article, 4) Writing the article, 5) Getting it published, 6) Facing the repercussions and consequences of the publication of that particular article.

The challenge of finding a topic for an article is again dependent on many factors, namely; current events, journalistic keen, relevance to established beliefs and norms, sensation, and advocacy.

Going down, the angle taken is also dependent on personal preference, advocacy, and creativity; data gathering on availability of resources, determination, patience, and attention to detail; writing the article on grammar and vocabulary proficiency, the language used, and technical equipment; getting the article published on persistence, relevance of an article, sensation, the paper's advocacy, and editorial preference; and finally facing the repercussions and consequences of the publication of a particular article on only two things, truth and knowledge of the law.

The penultimate challenge in journalism is not actually the petty and academic things that we encounter as practicing journalists, but journalism itself. Personally, I must say that the main objectives of responsible journalism are to illicit change, foster development, and hasten progress. Journalism is the true test of the maxim, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” It is our responsibility as journalists to keenly identify a problem, trace the root of that problem, and address that root cause in our writing to responsibly expose what is hidden and consequently motivate those responsible for the problem to move and the public to take action. There is no loose hole to crawl into when bombarded by the consequences of vigilant and responsible journalism, there is only a thin sheet of paper standing between us and the myriad of hostilities that may result from our writing. But then again let us, as budding journalists, remember that it is not actually the paper that protects us in our adversities but the words written on that piece of paper that, may, in time, end up in somebody else's toilet bowl or trash can.

The mark of a true journalist is not in how good he/she can write, either is it in the issues tackled in article. The mark of a true journalist lies in our ability to sport grace under fire, never once cracking under the pressures of the reading public.

Challenges are just challenges. The rewards of journalism are great and various but for us to reap these rewards we must work with blood and sweat, scorch our eyebrows and put our lives in the line of fire to vigilantly and responsibly expose and defend what we journalists are here for, what we journalists are made to protect, what we journalists are stewards of – THE ULTIMATE TRUTH.

Be rational; be insane… every once in a while! TTFN!

Hi to Mon, musta ka na? Hello to my dearest readers, Chan, Vic, Vincent, and Rex, Alex, Arvin, Corz, Jim, Kiara, Malikh, Mr. Pampolina, Audrae, Franz, Hendrick, Janice, Jay, Jim, Jonathan, Mark, Marz, Mel, Pres, Nhonoy, Niel, Piper, Rheavil, Joey, Alma, Rodolfo, Ecker, Ryan. Hello also to a new addition to our RI Barkada, Roni, thanks for the great comments, to Miss Dieter of Lapaz (sorry you didn't tell me your name, hehe) to Ian of Bacolod but who is in Iloilo right now, to Narle, Sunny and to Anuj of CMC, I love you all! Byers! Salamat gid sa mga walang-hintong text and reactions nyo! Catch Rational Insanity in TNT's online edition, check us out at www.thenewstoday.info, text me at (0920)9254269, or email me at prague@eudoramail.com .