MASS MEDIA AS THE BACKBONE OF DEMOCRACY

by: Mabel Ann Ruedas

“DEMOCRACY - a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people; rule of the majority” ~ Merriam and Webster Dictionary

Mass Media is the backbone of democracy. It is considered such by the way media influences the society through its incessant dissemination of information about politics and politicians, especially here in the Philippines. The information propagated, being the basis of the people for their choice of votes particularly in the election period. Media serves as the overseer of the transgression and corruption by those who have power. And the media also identifies societal problems which are then given much deliberation for resolutions by the nation. And with these responsibilities of the media, it is therefore concluded that the media performs to a certain standard by which it highly follows the universal code of ethics.

I for one, in our present time, there is a growing concern that the mass media is not fulfilling its roles properly. Take for example during election time. Advertisements in television, radio and the newspapers are supposed to be contemplating on the good deeds and perfect qualifications of the politicians for the people to notice and vote for them. But in reality, instead of ideologies of the politicians that would help uplift our nation, the information being broadcasted to the society is more of about the personalities of the powerful and famous; and more about gossips, scandals, sex and violence. The news is more entertaining rather than informing. The media hunt for scandals in the private lives of politicians and their families, but ignore much more serious consequences of their policies. And what’s more bothering is that the people have come across and accepted the way the news is spread and eventually decide upon the future of the nation and its leader with the information that the media has fed them.

How can it be called democracy now when there’s already a third party involved in the decision of the majority, that being the media. It is sad to know how the mass media can influence the society with such great impact. That is why we mass communicators should know how to use the power within our capabilities that can make or break a person. It should not always be about bragging rights as to who scooped on the scandal of this and that and all about making money and profit out of the news we obtain. We should all be responsible enough to be better mass communicators of the future; truth centered and God-fearing, making the most out of our acquired information not only to make profit out of it but also to educate and inform

MASS MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY

Eizell Grace Bantegui

For me when I heard the “Mass media” it could be a media technologies like television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles whether written, broadcast, or spoken. That we live in a society that depends on information and communication,  it’s a kind of communication that reaches and influences a large number of people, people that can be a male or female, old or young, and people in high or low society. The importance of the mass media is immense that never before in our history have the media had such great significant on our lives and behavior that it is like everything revolves in media nowadays.  Then there is “Democracy” for me it means power of the people and seen as one of the ultimate ideals that modern civilizations try hard to create or maintain also a principle of universal freedoms such as the right to have a free speech. Where there is  a government in which the highest power have the rights of ownership in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually concerning from time to time held free elections in short we the people in our community have a say of how should our own community will run. Because decisions are being made everyday, but those decisions are not being made in isolation that relating us in those decisions about our communities is the important principle of a democracy. This is also about taking an interest in the decisions being made around us and finding out how we can get involve in determining these decisions and this is not only for the adults to be concerned about but also for us the young’s, we should care about local issues and must share our own views and opinions because by getting involve in our local democracy we can really help shape a good future for each one of us. The combination of mass media and democracy is by supporting objective news and information programs people can make knowledgeable decisions, cultivating alternative media so that multiple voices and opinions will be heard, multiplying the impact of change activities by distributing information on successful local peace and participatory efforts. Mass media and democracy have also the same purpose it is literally for everyone. With their combination the mass media represent the strength of character of democracy the media are supplying the political information that voters base their decisions on. They identify problems in our society and serve as a medium for reflection. They are also the watchdogs that we rely on for discovering errors and wrongdoings by those who have power. It is therefore reasonable to require that the media perform to certain standards with respect to these functions, and our democratic society rests on the statement that they do.

Serving Nation by being a Journalist

Miracle Kelvina Alonzo

     Let me begin this by saying that I have high respect for broadcasters and journalists who are determined enough to know the TRUTH behind every single story.

     This is one of the attitudes that all aspiring broadcasters and journalists should obtain, the courage to broadcast what is RIGHT, giving news to people fairly without any form of being bias. The strength to face TRUTH without even covering big names of people involved in a certain situation.

      I strongly believe that once you got the chance to be part of media industry, your main responsibility is to SERVE the people. Serve the NATION. Provide them the things that they deserve and need to know. It’s not your responsibility to please your Bosses. People rely on whatever information media will be providing. People deserve to know the TRUTH behind every single story.

      I remembered the time when I was told by my professor, “Media can make or break a nation.” This statement proves how powerful media is. But we should use this power to educate people and give them the sense of awareness within the things that are happening in our country.

        It is a lot easier for me to say this simply because I’m not in the position. But this is one of the things that I wish to have someday, the courage and strength to broadcast what is RIGHT. I want to be someone from the media industry who writes or reports without covering any faces. I want to reveal all dirty faces behind every mask of whoever is hiding from it.

        This is one of the things that I will always remember if ever I’ll be given a chance to be part of media, “We are journalists first.” A very short statement but contains a message that everyone in media should be aware of.

       I guess there are certain things that we need to do in order to be successful in this field. We need to set aside personal interests or intentions and serve the people and nation TRUTHFULLY. No matter if it includes taking risks because that is our responsibility, provide news even if sometimes it includes danger to our own lives.

       In my perception as a Mass Communication, the deeper meaning of Broadcast means to deliver information with heart and all fairness, to provide REAL score behind every story without taking any sides and to be determined enough not to cover anyone’s mask.

       When I graduate in this chosen field of mine, I’ll do my very best to possess the above traits that I have mentioned and I will use it to serve my fellowmen. Because I know by heart, that these attitudes define the meaning of a real “Journalist”.

Mass Media for Democracy

Monique Nellas

Mass media is the set of media technologies deemed to provide communications to a large group of people. Over the years, its role in making or breaking a society was greatly seen. It possesses great power and so a lot of people have been using it whether in a good and bad manner. It has been an itegral part of the history of the Philippines, of the lives of many Filipinos and the nations democracy.

Going back to People Power I, mass media had been a major key why people were able to gather for a cause. All Filipinos from different walks of life shout for a similar goal. They wanted to be liberated from the oppressing hands of the Marcos dictatorship. They reach their hands for freedom. And it was a success with just a simple call for support in a radio station, a marvelous historical event occurred.

I really hope that the use of mass media would continue to be like this. But at present, as I see it, its usage was mislead by those who have ulterior motives. Instead of communicating important messages to the public, sometimes the content of messages dessiminated were full of biases from the reporters themselves up to the owners of the company or stations. This is highly aggravated because of the fact that most of the newspapers, t.v. and radio stations nowadays are owned by businessmen. Is there equality here? Even democracy?

I would want to see mass media used in these manner. Rich or poor receives the equal right of having the truth behind each story. Nothing is concealed. Those who have great control over it will promote unity rather than partiality. It will be for the benefit of all not only for certain people who wanted personal advantage. Its power is for all. But this things I know is hard to achieve for as long as those who are abused will not speak up and fight for their rights.

Mass media can truly be an intstrument for democracy. A lot of accounts in the past can prove this. But we can never deny that as man fights for his everyday survival, this can be abused and so may lead to more oppressions than liberty and equality.

Media as Watchdog.

       Media is said to be the eyes and the ears of the people. But is it desirable? I read this PDF file a book about media as watchdogs, it is stated here that "Media" is "scandalmonger" meaning that the end goal is to amuse the audience rather than to inform them and mobilize them for reform/ development.

(page 3)

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/pnorris/Conference/Conference%20papers/Coronel%20Watchdog.pdf

Try reading this and reflect.

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Endless Journalists

Ma. Jean Loren Bonus

Media in the society now a days has become a big role in day to day living. Anytime and anywhere there you’ll see around you a different aspect of media, where you can picture up different issues that would come up a big issue. There has to be a different medium that definitely simplifies your problems. Television, radio, print as one of it, they becoming the biggest help for letting us know information that will guide us copping with it.

To the extent I can compare these brave journalists with our soldiers who do not bother about their lives and take the big responsibilities to give general masses an information of awareness in a truth way of manner and I should say what will be the outcome of the society if there will not be these media. Do you think we can help ourselves solving problems and even covering these unethical norms suffocating you?

And according to The Role of Journalism by L. Dailey, professor, Reynolds Chair in Media Technology and D.A. Reynolds was said that “Journalism is a little bit of everything. At its core it is about communicating, connecting and informing. It is about sharing and provoking. News organization needs to learn how to communicate with community better”. In way of manner journalists really gives us information that is relying on the truth and they serve this ethical. They disseminating the truth and value what it has to be, they serve people to create the truth for who and what to serve. As what Maria Ressa was said “In order to do that, we journalists have to first hold ourselves accountable, making sure we protect no vested interests. If we do our jobs well, all Filipinos will benefit. If we do our jobs well, we will help build a better nation with more transparent processes”. They were also fair in duties, and no biased. Journalists people is a well criticized including their values, that is why, why should we learn media standards ethics if no one affirms they communicate in a good way that no one can run down especially those people involve.

“Work and play are used to describe the same thing under differing conditions.” Mark twain

Journalists work as well, venturing for a job has a lot to be liken them. It is what they need to be frightened of, but for work and to build right culture they intended for. There I should say journalists have a tough job, as they often find themselves covering stories about death, disease, poverty, racism, depression and political corruption. While sometimes the nature of journalism tends to be grim even if they are about in a crucial world implicating their private lives also at work. And I do really believe on what they served us I just comment on it not on them but for what they reported.