THE HEAD of ABS-CBN Digital News Media said media should shed light on relevant issues and guide the public toward verified information in a lecture last Sept. 20 at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P.
“[T]here’s so much fake content out there online, [so] news media must become the beacon of light that guides the public to the safety of verified information,” Karen Puno said in a lecture on media leadership in the digital era and documentaries.
Netizens also have a responsibility to call out people on social media who share fake news, and help them verify information online, she said.
“[W]e have to call out the fakes. Because we don’t know what kind of bad effect or impact that wrong information will have to another person even if it’s simple information,” Puno told the Varsitarian in a chance interview.
Jeff Canoy, an ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs reporter who also spoke during the event, urged members of the campus press to be critical in reporting university issues.
“I]n this day and age na parang binu-bully ang mga journalists into not telling the truth, I think it’s important to stick to what we do. So in this case, as student journalists, I think [your role] is to really investigate, to cast a light on issues,” Canoy told the Varsitarian.
“[M]araming hindi magsasalita, maraming magsasabing umalis kayo dito or ‘wag kayong mag cover. Pero ‘yun ‘yung trabaho niyo… to go into that dark place and to cast a light on what’s happening there, to show or tell people what’s happening,” Canoy said.
