With Regards to The News

Let this be a Reminder to our present Newscasters, Journalists, TV Personalities, here and elsewhere with hopes for better programming. GMA Channel 7, this one's for you. I wouldn't post this if I didn't care.

From Wikipedia:

The Journalist's Creed is a personal and professional affirmation and code of journalism ethics written by Walter Williams in 1914. The creed has been published in more than 100 languages, and a bronze plaque of The Journalist's Creed hangs at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Williams was the founding dean of the Missouri School of Journalism.

The Journalist's Creed

• I believe in the profession of journalism.
• I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of their responsibility, trustees for the public; that acceptance of a lesser service than the public service is betrayal of this trust.
• I believe that clear thinking and clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.
• I believe that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true.
• I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.
• I believe that no one should write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman; that bribery by one’s own pocketbook is as much to be avoided as bribery by the pocketbook of another; that individual responsibility may not be escaped by pleading another’s instructions or another’s dividends.
• I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness should prevail for all; that the supreme test of good journalism is the measure of its public service.
• I believe that the journalism which succeeds best — and best deserves success — fears God and honors Man; is stoutly independent, unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power, constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of its readers but always unafraid, is quickly indignant at injustice; is unswayed by the appeal of privilege or the clamor of the mob; seeks to give every man a chance and, as far as law and honest wage and recognition of human brotherhood can make it so, an equal chance; is profoundly patriotic while sincerely promoting international good will and cementing world-comradeship; is a journalism of humanity, of and for today’s world.

If you want to make the news truly relevant, maybe there should be a portion dedicated to the problems that are endemic to this country and not focus on petty and inconsequential street crimes, a daily fare for you apparently.

Corruption is a major problem this country faces and if you don’t take a stand against the people undermining the country’s economy, then you’re complicit and part of the problem and all your so-called journalistic benefaction will be put on public scrutiny. Bureaucracy in all government institutions is the natural follow-up and should be treated as corruption, a  malignant disease thinly disguised as public service.

Traffic in Metro Manila is also a such a burden for this society and some people have the power to do something about it. You’re in the mass media. You can have the proper leverage to fix this. Teach people to be more aware of discipline and proper commuter etiquette. All the infrastructure the government has promised to build will make no difference if what we see and experience on the roads are heartbreaking for everybody!  It’s simply too chaotic and an “every man for himself” situation! Not good for any society and definitely not good for progress!