N.B. – A journalism student from the University of the Philippines (UP) emailed questions about the role of the media in the 2010 elections. Even if there are questions specific to UP students who are also voters, I think my answers apply to other Filipinos. Thanks.
How can debates and discussions during elections affect voters in terms of their awareness of issues and eventually their decision on whether or not to vote and who to vote for?
If done correctly, debates can help enlighten voters with regard to identifying the candidates worth supporting. They might even end up not just voting but also actively campaigning for them, thus increasing a candidate’s electoral stock.
Can you differentiate the effectiveness of different media (TV, Radio, Print, Internet) in channeling election related confrontations and discussions (ERCDs)?
TV is said to be the most powerful and most credible form of mass media, at least based on a survey by Pulse Asia. The Internet is relatively new and it still has limited reach. The blogosphere, however, has proven to be an effective venue for discourse. One should note, however, that the power of blogging is mainly rooted in how the mainstream media, especially television, would report anything that happens in the blogosphere.
How effective is the Internet as a medium for ERCDS?
Compared to television, not much. Even if the number of Filipinos going online is increasing exponentially in the past few years, the reach is still less than half of the population.
Why do you think individuals (UP students in particular) engage in election debates and discussions online and others don’t’?
Individuals who can actively participate in e-groups and fora obviously have access to the Internet. It is easy for UP students to go online because the campus now has better Internet connection. Aside from the official discussion groups provided by the UP website, there are also privately-run, UP-specific websites like peyups.com that serve as good venues for discussions both serious and light.
Why is it that UP students seem to be more open in defending and attacking parties, candidates and platforms online than face-to-face?
Just like other individuals, UP students have the tendency to be more assertive since they can hide under the cloak of anonymity whenever they are online. A person, I think, will be more careful online if he or she does not use any alias in posting comments in blogs, discussion groups and other social networking sites.
Why do you think students also use personal attacks in ERCDS online? (Personal attacks: attacks that are directed against the person in his/her private life without connection to politics, leadership or his/her student-life)
It may have to do with the cloak of anonymity. At a subjective level, it is possible that a person takes personally any dissenting opinion, thus the resort to ad hominem attacks and other fallacious arguments to assuage one’s anger. Egocentrism could also be factor in this regard.
What do you think are the possible advantages of these personal attacks over issue-based discussions in persuading UP voters?
Personal attacks tend to muddle the issue. I don’t see any use of personal attacks in the proper shaping of public opinion. If at all, it only adds color to the discourse and gives momentary humor. Then again, this is also dangerous because people might end up trivializing the issue and not recognize its importance.
What are the chances that ERCDs online are deliberately used as campaign strategy by UP students? What are the chances that these are orchestrated?
It’s possible, but as the saying goes, one should not put all his or her eggs in one basket. Personal interaction with voters is still very important despite the preponderance of state-of-the-art means of communication.
In your opinion, what role will the Internet play in future election in UP and in the country?
Television, I think, will still play a major role in the next election. Web 2.0 can nevertheless be maximized to reach out to the more Internet-savvy voters, not to mention the OFWs deployed in industrialized countries that have better Internet access than the Philippines. The fact that there are politicians with Friendster and Facebook accounts is an indication of the power of social networking sites. In addition, Pangandaman at the height of the Valley Golf Brawl controversy also called on bloggers to stop vilifying his family. That is a recognition of the power bloggers have nowadays, though such power, as I stated, is contingent on the coverage of the so-called traditional media, especially television.