That’s me giving a lecture on blogging and journalism during WordCamp Philippines 2008 last September 6 at the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde in Manila. (Photo courtesy of Miss Wicked)
I don’t intend to repeat the “process documentation” made by more than 50 bloggers (go to JezhLau Concepts for a definitive list). Most of them wrote tongue in cheek which is quite understandable for their age.
Anyway, the purpose of this personal evaluation is to share the points raised by bloggers who attended my lecture titled “Blogging and Journalism in the Philippines: Journalistic Blogging for the People.” If you’re interested, by the way, please download my paper and slide presentation, both in PDF format.
During the lecture, I said that bloggers should adhere to acceptable professional and ethical standards in the writing and production of media content. There is much to learn from the responsible practice of the journalism profession, in much the same way that journalists can learn from the multimedia approach typical of blogs (and the new media for that matter) in disseminating information.
Since the blogosphere and the journalism profession are both part of the public domain, it is absolutely necessary for bloggers, just like journalists, to be accountable to their readers and to help shape public opinion through meaningful blog entries (i.e., posts and comments).
A participant correctly said that those who are irresponsible are usually the ones who generate a lot of Web traffic, much to the consternation of responsible ones who sometimes have very few readers. He actually mentioned a particular blog which hogged the headlines in the recent past due to the blogger’s slanderous and scandalous remarks about his lover and some personalities in the alta sociedad.
But everyone agreed that we should all rethink our purpose of blogging: Is it to simply get attention or to shape public opinion? Is it to engage in shameless promotion or to provide relevant information? Is it mainly to monetize or primarily to conscienticize?
I think that the generation of Web traffic should be secondary to the main objective of providing relevant media content. Even prior to the ubiquity of blogging, web authors have adhered to the principle “content is king (pardon the sexist tone)” in the design and layout of websites. There is a need to reaffirm this principle, this time along the lines of upholding journalistic integrity in writing.
One does not have to be serious (activists sometimes call it GND or grim and determined) in approaching a topic. A blogger can opt to do a light and funny treatment of a pressing issue provided that he or she does not end up trivializing it. There is such a thing as “political satire,” and I’m sure you can identify bloggers (Filipino or otherwise) who do a good job at making you laugh while being enlightened.
Despite the limited time, I’d like to think that we were able to clarify that bloggers should not demand that journalists clean up their acts first before they are told to adhere to professional and ethical standards.
First, why should the quality of blogging be dependent on the quality of journalism that we have? Second, standards in journalism are used as bases for the simple reason that they are the oldest and most established in the three fields of mass media (the other two being advertising/public relations and entertainment). Please note that this is not a situation where journalists are imposing their will on the bloggers.
Blogging and journalism should be seen as complementary, not adversarial, to each other. The tension, I think, is borne out of the perception that adhering to standards is tantamount to censorship. Quite the contrary, standards are meant to make bloggers and journalists exercise responsibility in the freedom that they enjoy (although we have to recognize attempts of the powers-that-be to muzzle it).
Given the need to uphold self-regulation in the blogosphere, I suggested that WordCamp Philippines take the lead in recommending acceptable principles and standards in blogging based on existing bloggers’ codes of ethics like the one by CyberJournalist.net.
For those interested, I said that a blog monitoring website (the name “Pinoy BlogWatch” comes to mind) can be established to monitor specific blog entries, particularly coming from the popular and established blogs. The monitoring shall be based on clear principles and standards of responsible blogging, adherence to which can be shown by installing badges/widgets or writing disclosures.
I think the best way to end this blog is to repeat what had been posted by several bloggers who were at WordCamp: Congratulations to the Mindanao Bloggers (especially to Blogie Robillo and Migs Hipolito) for a job well done!
Updates (September 9 to October 2, various times): Thank you to the following bloggers who wrote about the “Blogging and Journalism” session at WordCamp:
- WordCamp Breakaway Sessions by Aja Lapus
- WordCamp, Meeting Matt Mullenweg by Miss Wicked
- wordcamp 2008: notes by onyxx
- Wordcamp 2008: for healthy & wealthy blogging by hitokirihoshi
- what i learned today during wordcamp by Jam Sisante (Note: She was my student at UP CMC.)
- On WordCamp 2008 and Meeting Mr. WordPress by Lexie Tolentino
- Rockin’ @ WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Salve Canale
- wordcamp philippines 2008: on meeting mr. wordpress, web standards and other stuff by Shari Cruz (Note: She did not attend my session but she had something to say about it.)
- Pulis, niloko ng tanga! by Pedro Montoya
- I WAS WORDCAMPED by Tannix
- A Goodie from Japan + some WordCamp Philippines afterthoughts by hazy
- Wordcamp….. I was there! by joycerica
- Responsible Blogging and Us by Sherma E. Benosa
- WordCamp Philippines 2008: On Being a Remarkable Responsible Blogger by usagijen
- Prof. Danilo Arao, Hinamon ang mga Blogger sa WordCamp 2008 by Shen (Note: Shen’s new project, Pinoy Blog Movement for Change and Action, is worth visiting in the days to come.)
- Wordcamped! by mnel
- Sa iyo na mapaghanap by Jeck
- I was at WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Aileen Estoquia (Note: She neither attended nor mentioned the “Blogging and Journalism” session, but I included her post for two reasons: She writes well and I can’t say no to a former student.)
- I Was There!!!: Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Street sign
- Welcome back to loooooong hiatus by Sanyata (Note: This is a photo documentation of what transpired.)
- WordCamp Firsts by Dave Quitoriano (Note: He uploaded a photo of me together with him, DLS-CSB SMIT Dean Benhur Ong, Blogie Robillo, Matt Mullenweg and Paul Pajo.)
Please leave a comment if I had left anything out. I only used Google Blog Search (Beta) in tracking recent backlinks to Rising Sun and other relevant SERPs. Thank you for reading.
Thank you for posting the PDF up for download. I am currently downloading it.
Thanks for your talk as well. I learned a lot.
Reply: You’re most welcome and thank you for attending.
“For those interested, I said that a blog monitoring website (the name “Pinoy BlogWatch” comes to mind) can be established to monitor specific blog entries, particularly coming from the popular and established blogs. The monitoring shall be based on clear principles and standards of responsible blogging, adherence to which can be shown by installing badges/widgets or writing disclosures.”
I agree with this sir, this could be blogosphere’s KBP. In the same way that the KBP functions for broadcast media, bloggers should establish a group which could promote self-regulation, that regulation would come from the group, not from the government or any other institution, but from within the blogging community. We can formulate a version of our “code of ethics” for bloggers, just like in the KBP.
Reply: So nice of you to drop by! I had the chance to meet you while you were still at IBC 13. If you still remember, I guested on your show a few days before EDSA Dos. Keep up the good work at ABS-CBN.
Your discussion last Saturday was an eyeopener for us bloggers. Since blogs are public domains, a blogger should exercise responsibility in every post he or she publishes in his or her site.
Thank you for sharing your views about this issue. It was an eyeopener for us.
Reply: WordCamp was also an eye-opener for me. There were a lot of interesting points and questions raised in the short time we had, most of which I will incorporate in an article I will submit to a media publication.
thanks sir for an informative and interesting lecture! more power!
Reply: Walang anuman. Thanks for noticing my Barong Tagalog in your post (aside from my constant hopping on stage!). One thing you did not mention in your post is my choice of color. But I guess you know why it’s green. All the best!
Eek sir you probably shouldn’t have linked to my blog, that post was the perfect example of a tongue-in-cheek entry from a young, shallow blogger heehee.
Seriously though, your lecture made me feel like I was in class again :) I kind of miss being in journalism school.
Reply: Tongue in cheek? Yes. Young? Definitely. But shallow? I don’t think so. If you really miss journalism school, there’s always graduate school waiting for you. Good luck on your work at GMA 7.
Hello, Sir.
Thank you for your lecture last Saturday. Very impressive.
~Sherma
Reply: You’re most welcome. I wish you all the best. Your post “Responsible blogging and us” clearly shows that you have what it takes to be a committed blogger. Keep it up and in the future, you will make a difference in the blogosphere.
Oh so you’re the guy wearing the barong.
This was certainly one of the most interesting posts about the Wordcamp. Now I’m regretting not attending your session. Thanks for putting the presentation up for download!
Reply: Yes, I’m that seemingly overdressed old man walking around the fifth floor, waiting for 11:20 am. I initially planned to leave after my lecture but I decided to stay to listen to Matt’s presentation. I’m glad I did because I also learned a lot from him, particularly the features of WP 2.7 and Crazy Horse. Don’t regret failing to attend my session as I’m sure your attendance in the other sessions had been worthwhile. You can still learn more about the principles and standards of blogging from other sources.
despite my earlier ambivalence about this event, i’m glad i came if only to experience what it’s like. i’m also glad i signed up for your short lecture, because i managed to learn a few things. more power!
Reply: More power also to you and thanks for attending. I know that bloggers are very hard to please, so I thank you and the others for the generally positive feedback.
Isang mainit na pagbati Sir!
I really enjoy reading your personal blog. To tell you frankly, I can even use some of your posted items in my tertiary and masteral classes for purposes of enhancements. Keep posting articles that put our national languages (Filipino)to pedestal.
More power and Godspeed!
alwin
Reply: Thank you for your kind words. Coming from a colleague in the teaching profession, it really means a lot. Mabuhay ka!
Hello Sir Danny.
I was with Salve and Hotokirihoshi at the wordcamp. I was the one who used the word ‘so-called,’ if you remember it. Hehehe. Yes, we all noticed your barong. And I remember telling my friends it must be expensive. The color is refreshing; green is my fave. ;-)
As to your “hopping,” my friends and I think it’s cool; I was able to easily picture you in your classroom, and for the duration of your lecture, I had this weird feeling I was back in a UP classroom. I also remember telling my friends, “I wish, tumuloy ako sa journ!” Waaaaa! But never mind, I had a three-year stint in a health mag, despite my course. ;-)
Thank you so much for your nice comment about my post. I am not only for responsible blogging, but also for blogging with a (good) purpose.
Reply: Yes, I remember. You were wearing glasses and seated on the second row, I think. As I told Jam, it’s never too late for a second course. Since you already have a baccalaureate degree, why not try pursuing a master’s in journalism? Ateneo and our very own UP have excellent graduate programs in journalism and media studies. Thanks for saying that my “hopping” is “cool.” As regards the barong (and to quantify what I meant by “cheap”), it only cost me and my wife P1,200! Quite a bargain, right?
your talk should have been included in the plenary sessions.
Reply: Thanks for the vote of confidence! I think future WordCamps should have a healthy mix of technical (form) and substantive (content) aspects of blogging. The plenary topics we had are mainly technical. If you’re going to ask me, all session topics are worth discussing during plenary sessions because I find them all interesting. All the best!
Thanks very much for your contribution to WordCamp! We really appreciate it, and so do your readers! :)
Reply: Thanks for the comment, Blogie! All the best!
sir, pwede pa-add po ng link ko, if you don’t mind? :D
here it is: http://sunchoke.net/wordcamp-philippines-2008-2/
thanks!
thanks for the link, and thanks for the compliment on my writing. that means a lot because it comes from the mouth of a respected journalist. :)
now i’m guilty about not attending your session. kirk said he learned a lot. i had opted to follow the development track. i’m sorry. i have a copy of your presentation, though.
Reply: You shouldn’t apologize or feel guilty because you also learned from the other sessions. The only thing missing in the paper and presentation you’ve downloaded is obviously the sharing of bloggers who attended the session. To fill the void, so to speak, I will be publishing an updated version of the paper in the October issue of a media monitoring magazine which incorporates their questions and other comments. All the best!
Hi, Sir Danny!
p1,200 is indeed cheap. Your barong looks much more expensive. I’m working on my thesis at educ right now. I wanted to do MA Journ sa CMC sana nung 2004, but when I checked the schedule, it was not working-people friendly as classes ended at 5pm (e paalis pa lang ako sa work pag ganoong time) and there were no classes on Sat. So needless to say, I looked for another course, sa Educ ako napadpad. Okay na rin, because I also want to teach at related naman ang major ko ngayon sa aking undergrad. :-)
Sir, I wanna invite you sana to take a peek sa blog ko, dun sa post ko about responsible blogging (the one you linked here). There is an interesting comment from a blogger-friend, which I think you might want to read (and comment on, perhaps?).
If I understood it well, her question is: does shaping public opinion also extend to fiction/literary works? (She’s a poet whose writings I admire).
Reply: I did read your post though I have to admit skipping the “comments” part since I normally do blog-hopping in between writing, editing and other chores. Anyway I will read that comment from your friend a little later. I agree that Educ is also a good master’s course if you want to become a teacher. I’m sorry if you find our graduate program at CMC not so “working-student friendly.” I just want to clarify that classes during weekdays usually start at 5:30 p.m. and we do offer some Saturday classes (i.e., usually 9 am to 12 pm or 1 to 4 pm). I know this because I’ve been handling MA courses since 2002. Then again, it’s the professor’s call as to the schedule of your preferred course which may not suit your own. It’s possible that wayback in 2004, the courses you wanted conflict with your work schedule. Thanks for your comment on the Barong Tagalog I wore last September 6. According to the editor of PJR Reports, the updated version of the paper I submitted will be published in its October 2008 issue. All the best!
Hi Danny,
It was nice to meet you. I attended your talk and I took a picture of your talk in the blog.
cheers!
Reply: Yes, I read and left a comment on your post. Hope you’ll reply positively to my small request. All the best!