Tag: journalism

Was the Philippines’ mainstream media hoodwinked into reacting to #LeniLeaks?

January 16, 2017January 16, 2017 benign0 4 Comments

That, of course, is a question that will underlie countless debates over the foreseeable future. Was there a conspiracy to oust sitting President Rodrigo Duterte in the works behind the shadowy non-security of a YahooGroups message forum? Is there really evidence to support sedition charges against Leni Robredo’s camp sitting in those “leaked” emails? Only…

Media, Society

Mainstream media needs to evolve – or face extinction

November 5, 2016 benign0 19 Comments

At the core of the crisis gripping mainstream media and mainstream “thought leadership” in the Philippines is the way ordinary Filipinos remain trapped in social hierarchy. Rather than encourage debate that focuses on the merit of the ideas and arguments tabled, Filipinos lazily defer to rank, credential, and seniority. This is no thanks, of course,…

Media, Society

Attacking Mocha Uson only makes her stronger and her influence more powerful

October 25, 2016 benign0 8 Comments

There’s a rare level of dimwittedness involved in coming up with — and actually implementing — the idea of petitioning the shutdown of Mocha Uson’s Facebook page. The backfire and fallout from this quaint project all but proved just how fragmented the Opposition is today. Even die-hard characters in the Yellow Camp refused to sign…

Civics, Culture, Media, Society

The hypocrisy in the petition to shut down Mocha Uson’s Facebook page

October 24, 2016October 25, 2016 benign0 11 Comments

A petition to suspend the Facebook page of Mocha Uson, a Filipino celebrity blogger and staunch supporter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, is making the rounds. The Suspend Mocha Uson Blog Facebook Page on Change.org has, as of this writing, attracted almost 26,000 signatories with the following write up set to be “delivered” to Facebook….

Media, Politics, Society, Tech Talk

IATROGENICS: Why Rappler is Becoming a Victim of Its Own Medicine

October 20, 2016October 25, 2016 Marcus 26 Comments

Hashtags: #TakeBackMariaRessa #OmidyarNetwork I can only feel for Maria Ressa. Her motherly interest to defend her team from criticism resulted in more harm rather than good. Nassim Nicholas Taleb comes to mind. He coined the the term “naive interventionism”, from iatrogenics in the medical field. Iatrogenics is a case wherein a…

Media, Politics, Science

Rashomon Effect: The Self-serving Interest of Mainstream Media and the People

October 18, 2016October 18, 2016 Marcus 46 Comments

This is in response to Maria Ressa’s comment on a post dated October 5, 2016. John, sino ba’ng hindi gustong magkaisa? Understand we all live in the Philippines, and every policy affects each and every Filipino. I think we differ in critical thinking and the role of journalism: we believe that no matter who’s in…

Government, Media, Politics, Technology

According to Maria Ressa, an army of bots, sock puppets and a sexy blogger is terrorising Rappler

October 11, 2016 benign0 35 Comments

So is there really an army of “bots” that rampage through the Internet “trolling” social media and attacking hapless corporate news media sites? According to Maria Ressa, CEO of “social news media” site Rappler, there really is such an army of darkness. Ressa insists that we are in the midst of a “propaganda war” and…

Culture, Media, Politics

Journalism is not a crime but some ‘journalists’ are downright crooked

October 6, 2016October 6, 2016 benign0 31 Comments

Much as it may have pained the editors of mainstream news sites like the Inquirer.net, a Get Real Post comment featured on GRPundit on the 1st October 2016, Reporters Karen Lema and Manuel Mogato of @Reuters LIED about the Duterte “Hitler” quote, was consistently cited as the place where it all started. They refer to…

Crime, Media, Politics