Students from The Manila Times College emailed a few questions about the credibility and influence of web-based news sources. My short answers below will be further explained when I give a lecture on blogging ethics in General Santos City on Saturday (December 11).
Why do you consider writing for web-based news sources influential?
I consider it important but not necessarily influential. A print or online publication’s influence is mainly determined by its readership and I don’t think the publications I write for – Pinoy Weekly, Bulatlat and The Lobbyist – have enough reach among Internet users in the Philippines and in the world. Along with print and broadcast, online journalism can be used in the shaping of public opinion. The basic challenge among journalists is to straddle the different forms of mass media (including social media like Facebook) to help get the message across.
How would you differentiate web-based news sources and print-based news sources based on guidelines and code of ethics?
There is no major difference in the code of ethics of print and online publications. The professional and ethical standards of journalism cut across the different forms of mass media. As regards guidelines, there may be specific differences depending on the editorial policies of a news media organization. In the case of an online publication, deadlines are very fluid as articles get posted as soon as they are ready, a situation very much unlike a newspaper where the deadlines for specific sections are well-defined and deviating from them could delay the printing of the issue.
Why should people consider web-based information reliable sources?
People cannot assume reliability based on the form of mass media. Just because it’s published on the Web doesn’t mean that the information is reliable. Just like other forms of mass media, online publications need to build a reputation first and earn the trust of their audiences before they could be considered reliable sources of information.
Cite specific socio-political issues that were exposed by web-based news sources that had changed the views of the reader.
When a blogger named “Ella” exposed in her blog the delay in the delivery of relief goods for Typhoon Ondoy victims, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) came under fire. This is a fine example of how blogs contribute to social discourse, even if there are some ethical issues involved in this particular case. (For details, read my two-part essay titled “Pahaging sa responsableng blogging.”)
What influences do these news sources give to their readers?
Some readers assume that something is true just because it gets posted. This is the reason people have to be very careful on what they post online as information can be quickly shared (or re-posted).
What are the social and political effects of web-based news sources to its readers?
All news sources help in the shaping of public opinion though their influence and reach are dependent on the size of their audience.
How do web-based news sources affect the socio-political stand of its readers?
Just like other forms of mass media, online publications can persuade readers by coming up with convincing arguments to stress their points.
How long do you think web-based news sources would continue to shape the socio-political stand of its readers?
The Internet will be with us for quite some time even if its form may change through the years. The use of touch-screen technology, for example, could render the mouse or keyboard obsolete in the future. The possibilities are endless.