The Cebu Press a sick dinosaur

Media

Part of The Carolinian

Title: The Cebu Press a sick dinosaur
extracted text: CEBU PRCOO' g4Sick^binoiaur FOR A CITY with only about 300,000 inhabitants, Cebu City is supporting and feeding a press of dinosaur proportions. At the mo ment, the city is flooded by small newspapers and magazines “The Republic News”, “The Morning Times”, “The Cebu Star”, “The Advocate” and “The Youth”, all of which are engaged in a nip-andtuck affair for the head and heart of the Cebuanos. Although through tacit agreement, not all papers are published on the same day, the field is still too crowded for com fort. Obviously, the laws of the jungle will determine which of the many will survive. The grim strength of reality will force some one out of the overcrowded boat. II A most common complaint of the spectators of this competitive battle to the death is the limited scope of the newspaper coverage. By leaving the international and national news to the Manila dailies, the Cebu papers may be digging their own graves. Realizing one’s own limitations is laudable, but fear to venture is despicable. This self limitation is as short-sighted as locking oneself into a cornerThere’s no hope of a way out! The Cebu papers do not even cover foreign affairs, yet they publish out-of-the-country stories. The knowledgeable readers can easily see that what foreign news the papers have are free press re leases from the consulates, etc., printed usually verbatim; but the unwary reader is deceived into be lieving that these USIS originated materials as genuine news. To be honest, the papers should label these propaganda materials as propaganda or else stop playing wastebasket for the foreign PROs. Nobody can accuse the local pub lishers for not trying to keep up with the national news, but every body can see that they do not try hard enough. Some papers have Manila correspondents, but most local newsmen just prefer to re write those national news items that are of local interest from Manila papers. But more likely than not, the journalist presumes that these readers have Manila papers and let national news alone. Thus, na tional affairs are printed between long stretches of time and like a neglected mistress seldom sees her keeper. Local news, being the primary beat of most local reporters, is presumed to be well covered but pathetically this is seldom the case. The reporters often can not see what is five feet beyond their noses. They see only the floating part of the iceberg; the submerged part, the greater part of the news seldom sees print. This lack of depth reporting can be the fatal blow that may knock out the surviving members of the press. The back ground, the significance of the news need assessment, yet they are rarely assessed. The fundamental question “why” is left hanging in the air, waiting to be answered. In the analysis of local affairs, Cebuanos often have to rely on Ma nila pen-pushers who come across the scene on in passing, yet the scribblings of the outsiders are far superior to the silent answers of the local press. While hard-core news is lack ing, sensationalism is much in abundance. This can only mean two things: crime and politics. The distant town is seldom covered, but if a crime is committed there, it never fails to make the front pages. Constructive programs and effective legislation get only a brief review while mud-throwing politi cians always hit the headlines. Certainly, Cebu has other gratify ing elements aside from politics and crime. Ill As if running out of news, many reporters assume the role of a rumor-monger. They hide behind the smoke screen of anonymity and issue reports full of press jar gons such as “reliable sources said” and “high city hall officials an nounced”. While many of these re ports may be genuine leaks and trial balloons of government offi cials, many more are straight head speculations. Day-dreaming news men let their imaginations run wild and put words into the mouth of nonexistent sources and pass off the rumor as gospel. Unless this br Henry L. Ormoc A.B.-III abusive use of press jargon is curb ed, the press as the torch bearer of truth will receive a black eye. Some local papers seem to be particularly fond of distorting the news. It is an open secret that these distortions are but the ser vices expected of them from their boss — the Politician. While par tisan press has its own use, editors should not allow their papers to degenerate into mere party organs. The fate of the now defunct “Daily News”, is a lesson for all prac ticing journalists. Partisanship in editorial policy may be justified, but news should never be colored by blind loyalty. Unfortunately, some biased editors can not keep news and editorial functions apart. If one is to be lieve these papers, some of our local politicians must be incarnated satans, all black, no white. Slanted writing, unfavorable placement, de liberate omission and misleading headlines are constantly employed against them to serve the whims of the powers that be. Knowing that newspapers should be the last to spurt ink of hate and dissension, these editors are the first to sow seeds of confusion, viciousness and bitterness among the people. But the public knows who are thriving on this charivari of mud-slinging, sloganeering and brouhalas; this knowledge will sound the death knell of personal journalism. IV The tabloid format seems to be the mark of the local news. While this size is versatile, and easy,.to handle, the Cebu newsman has yet to realize and utilize its full po tentials. Tabloids can carry photos with great impact, yet photography is rarely used to its full advantage. The colorless and lifeless portrait prevails, thus one finds eternally smiling politicians on the front page. Sadly, modern photo-journ alism still has to see light in the local press. (Continued on page 47) Page Six THE CAROLINIAN January-February, 1966 dedicated, as far as its resources allow, to encourage and to provide for better teaching and learning opportunities through better and more extensive use of audio-visual and other instructional media. THE McNELLIS SCHOLARSHIP What is it? A friend of the Dean of Education at the University of San Carlos, Mrs. Marie McNellis of Michi gan, indicated her desire to support a student through college by paying all tuition and some incidental fees. Quali fications were simple: real need, past evidence of good scholastic work and the recommendation of the dean. The be neficiary for this scholarship has been chosen and accepted by Mrs. McNellis. Her name: Miss Prima Ligronio. NEW ARRIVALS Rev. Thomas M'ueller, SVD, arrived from Manila last November 1 and since then has been an asset and power to the Mathematics degree from De Paul Uni versity, Father Mueller arrived in the Philippines on October 25. Rev. Ludwig Lehmeier has returned from Washington D.C. where he obtained a doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Catholic University of America. He has been appointed University Chaplain and Dean of the Theology Department. Rev. Charles Hutterer, a new ad dition to the Department of Anthropo logy, arrived at the University of San Carlos on December 1. He was accom panied to Cebu by President Father Rodulf Rahmann, a well-known anthropo logist. Brother Bernulphus (A. van Schagen) also arrived at the beginning of December. He is a specialist in stained glass art work and an artist whose drawMISS ERLINDA CHICA . . . headed for France . . . The USC SSC delegation to the 9th National Union of Students Congress in Bacolod during the last week of December. — Sitting from I to r: Sergio Cugtas, Rex Acosta, Ignacio Enerio. — Standing from I to r: Manuel Juanillo, Cesar Corazo Jr., Lilian Cui, Treasurer; Jennie Kimseng, Atty. Doronio, Adviser; Corazon Jara, Secretary; Lucille Dy, Dulcemina Ong, Edgar Male, Vice-President; Lorenzo Lee. ings were on exhibition January 6-12 at Talamban Technological Center. 1 With these and other arrivals, name- j ly Father Margarito Alingasa and Fa ther Enrique Schoenig and the depart- I ure of Father Hubert Lorbach, Father I Peter John Raats and Father Fermin Dichoso, the San Carlos SVD communi ty totals 29. i FORMER FACULTY MEMBER COMES HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Miss Aurora Labitan, formerly of the USC Chemistry Department, recently ar rived on a Christmas visit to her family in Tinaan, Naga, Cebu. Miss Labitan taught chemistry here [ from 1955 to 1957, then again in 1962. ] She left for Germany as a trainee in food and drugs at the Institute in Co logne, and in the organic chemistry de partment at Bayerwerk, Leverkuesen. During her stay in Germany she met a lot of Carolinians and made extensive tours of continental Europe. Miss Labi tan lavishly praises the German govern ment and people for their friendliness and hospitality. At the end of her train ing, she went on a world tour (met Fathei- Rigney in London), coming home via the United States. She plans to go aboad again very soon. The eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. i Demetrio Labitan of Tinaan, Miss Labi- | tan took her A A. here in USC, and ob tained her B.S. in Chemistry from the | University of the Philippines. I CEBU PRESS (Continued from page 6) Many of the papers have devel oped, consciously or unconsciously a standard lay-out formula. These stereo-type layouts are used day in and day out without fail. This dressing of news in the same old rag is taking the dynamics out of dynamic news. This kind of mo notony kills the suspense. Who wants to eat the same food every day? The readers know what to expect already; they might as well not buy the papers. Except for a few who genuinely like their jobs, many newswriters are evidently bored by journalism. They seem to believe that the best writing is dull writing and that the best way to build a great newspaper is to offend no one. Some news papermen write in the colorless fashion of a club secretary posting up minutes. Some seem to be copy ing from the telephone directory. Many reporters and columnists should even go back to school to learn what English really is. The way they grow bumper-to-bumper grammatical and idiomatical er rors, one wonders if they are em barrassed at all. In general, most of the city’s newspapers are remarkably suc cessful and alert-looking. But the healthy outside hides a rotten in side. It is encouraging that some seem to be aware of their defects and are trying to heal their sore spots. January-February, 1966 THE CAROLINIAN Page Forty-seven
Date: 1966
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