Monitoring and Evaluation of Philippine Radio and TV Programs: News and Public Affairs: Issue - Sensationalism Sensationalism is a type

of editorial bias in mass media in which events and topics in news stories and pieces are over-hyped to increase viewership or readership numbers.1 Sensationalism may include reporting about generally insignificant matters and events that don't influence overall society and biased presentations of newsworthy topics in a sensationalist, trivial or tabloid manner.2,3 Some tactics include being deliberately obtuse,4 appealing to emotions,5 being controversial, intentionally omitting facts and information, being loud, self-centered and acting to obtain attention. Trivial information and events are sometimes misrepresented and exaggerated as important or significant, and often includes stories about the actions of individuals and small groups of people, the content of which is often insignificant and irrelevant relative to the macro-level day-to-day events that occur globally. Furthermore, the content and subject matter typically doesn't affect the lives of the masses and doesn't affect society, and instead is broadcast and printed to attract viewers and readers.1 With that said, let us now examine the Philippine news programs, such as ABS-CBNs TV Patrol and GMA-7s 24 Oras and even the print news, like The Philippine Daily Inquirer and The Philippine Star. Actually, for me, the first two paragraphs actually summarize and reflect the persisting trend of our countrys journalism media. Reasons for this being the case may be divided into cultural mindset of the Filipinos and it being just another indicator of capitalism. So first, news appeals to the emotions and makes things controversial, be it significant for the society or not. This is because majority of the Filipino people do love dramas, for instance, anything that is either a tragic event or a celebration of a fiesta is prioritized to be watched than the ongoing senatorial debate over national budget. Thats why news has been labeled infotaintment, for it has become a competition of manner of attack or delivery of a news, than the validity and truthness or credibility of the content. News is also Metro Manila-centric and is more prone to negativism. For example, a certain student has actually won a competition on the international level but then you wont find it on the headlines, instead you will find bad news, like a rape case, scandals, crime and violence, especially in the tabloids, which are always dramatized, again to appeal to the reader/viewers emotions.

1 2 3

"Issue Area: Sensationalism." Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting. Accessed May 18, 2013.

Stephens, Mitchell (2007). A History of News. New York: Oxford University Press. Thompson, John (June 22, 1999). "The Media and Modernity". In Mackay, Hugh; O'Sullivan, Tim. The Media Reader: Continuity and Transformation. Sage Publications Ltd. 4 "Sensationalism." Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Accessed May 18, 2013. 5 "Sensationalism." The freedictionary.com. Accessed May 18, 2013.

Another aspect is the possibility of news as a social aspect that is being controlled either by the government or the established private sectors for their own benefits. As the saying goes, The one who controls the media, controls the people. And since news is a great portion of media for the Filipinos, it is the portal of contrasting propagandas by those who control it. Just like what happened in the case of Nancy Binay, who is always on the news, due to criticisms to her, which I believe in return has become her way for greater exposure to the public, and to appeal to the awa emotion. When it comes to the television news, the sensationalism is also being done to and by the news anchors. First, the concept of them being sensationalized, like the prominence of Korina Sanchez, Ted Failon, Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez. Its like when you see them, they are well-dressed, they look smart and educated, thus establishing their influence to the viewers. Sensationalism are also being done by them, since the mood, the rising and intonation of their voices, facial expressions, etc. affect the impact of news to the viewers. For example, the way Mike Enriquez speaks is indeed a great tool for sensationalism. Laslty, the existence of capitalism is a fact in news. It is because the more number of people who watch that news program (ratings and rankings), the more advertisers who want their advertisements be aired during that news timeslot, thus it being considered a primetime slot which is the most expensive slot. Overall, the idea that is being fed to us by the news and public affairs of different media conglomerates that what they are doing is for the service of the people, and things like that, is actually not all the way true, for it is still for their best interest that they do things the way they do. What can be done by the viewers is to be able to use rational and critical thinking for an active participation towards societal awareness, and not just a complete absorption of all the things delivered unto us.