Media urged to give human face to stories

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Broadcast journalist Kara David. Photo by Ma. Alyssa Adrienne T. Samonte

A BROADCAST journalist has urged media colleagues and students to go beyond statistics and “put a face” in their stories to appeal to the audience.

“There is a face to every number and the soonest we put a face to that number then the viewers will eventually have an affinity to the subject. Hopefully, makapagpabago ng ating kamalayan,” Kara David, a news anchor for GMA Network, said in her keynote speech during a media seminar at the Buenaventura Paredes, O.P. Building.

David, who has been a journalist for two decades, highlighted the importance of objectivity and of the media’s power to “bridge the gap” in the society.

“Pwede tayong maging tulay ng mga hindi naaabot, maging mikropono ng mga walang tinig at maging salamin ng mga hindi napapansin. Never ever forget that,” she said.

“Hindi siya power na masusukat sa pera, sa kapangyarihan, karangyaan o kasikatan. Power siya na masusukat sa puso at inspirasiyon.”

Fake news

Ben Domingo Jr., member of the Commission on Higher Education’s technical panel on journalism, warned media students against the proliferation of fake news.

“Hindi lahat ng ulat na lumalabas sa diyaryo, radyo, TV at online ay balita. [M]arami dyan ay entertainment at gumagawa ng fake sites,” Domingo said.

Domingo said students should learn to spot fake news.

“Journalism [is the] business of truth-telling. Dapat po [ay] maingat din tayo. Kailangan malaman natin ang journalism at ang hindi,” he said.

The lectures were part of the first day of Via Veritas et Vita, a seminar on responsible journalism and social communication, organized by the student publications of the UST Ecclesiastical Faculties.

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