N.B. – This was published in The Lobbyist (November 30, 2011) where I write a column (Subtext).

A young actress gets interviewed Sunday afternoon by a highly-rated entertainment show about her break-up with a young actor. The latter’s sexual orientation then hogs the headlines as the public reads between the lines of his ex-girlfriend’s statement.

For all we know, he could indeed be gay or bisexual. Which leads us to a terse question: So what?

But what proves to be more fundamental is how this private affair becomes a “legitimate news story” of so-called entertainment journalists. While the young actress shares part of the blame for allowing herself to be interviewed (complete with the drama of crying in front of the camera), the highly-rated entertainment show should be criticized for allowing topics like this to get substantial airtime.

Just like blind items euphemistically called “baon” and “pasabog” by those who claim to be part of the journalism profession, private affairs of entertainers should not be reported as these are usually inconsequential to their jobs. For example, is it really important to know if a leading man is gay? Shouldn’t the public be focusing more on his acting skills (or the lack of it)?

Instead of helping shape public opinion by providing relevant information, self-proclaimed “entertainment journalists” only feed on public curiosity by providing trivia and gossip.  While it may not be their intention, they end up developing voyeurism among the public as they continue to expose dalliances and other inanities.
They claim that they only give the audiences what they want. My challenge to them is to provide scientific proof of this alleged demand from the public. As we all know, anecdotal evidence coming from a beauty parlor does not translate to public opinion. But even assuming for the sake of argument that a legitimate survey would prove that audiences indeed want gossip and trivia, the role of journalists (at least the real ones) is to help raise the level of discourse by providing the people the information they need to make informed choices.

I can’t imagine how the recent break-up between a young actress and an allegedly gay (or bisexual) young actor has an impact on an ordinary person’s life. Given the plethora of problems confronting Philippine society in general and the entertainment sector in particular, the so-called entertainment journalists should never run out of relevant topics to cover. In case they don’t know yet, the field of entertainment goes beyond showbusiness as it covers theater and other aspects of culture and counter-culture like independent music and documentaries. For example, reporting the working conditions of contractual workers who work behind the camera could better shape public opinion than exposing a young actor’s sexual orientation.

Going back to last Sunday’s airing of a private affair by a highly-rated entertainment show, the male anchor who interviewed the young actress always claims to be an entertainment journalist. If that were indeed the case, there is clearly a conflict of interest as he also openly admits working as a talent manager. That he also endorses selected products and services also complicates the situation.

A private affair packaged as a “legitimate news story” reflects the prostitution of entertainment journalism nowadays, no thanks to showbiz anchors and reporters who do not understand the professional standards; and to media organizations that tolerate this situation.

In the final analysis, this results not in the meaningful shaping of public opinion but in the shameful dumbing down of audiences. If these showbiz anchors and reporters want to become real entertainment journalists, they should start adhering to the highest standards of the profession and start pursuing relevant stories that the public needs to know.