Media has been the topic this past weeks, because of their role in the Manila Pen siege. Questions arised on media's relevance to such conflict situation and also on media's role in a democratic society. Just this morning, there was a Senate Hearing on media's arrest. Just after the Manila Pen siege, newspaper frontpages announced role of media in the rebellion. In fact, media arrests were more prominent than the Trillanes issue.
Of course, I don't want to debate here in my blog. But my stand would always be for the media. I believe the media is an important factor in a democratic state. I upheld above all the citizen's right to know pertinent information that affects a lot of people. And yes, risks are involved when covering such situation as rebellion. But I think a journalist would always have that instinct to make a choice to get a story ...and to tell that story after. As my journalism teacher would say, No story is worth one's life! A journalist can calculate if ones ife is at stake.
On a sidenote, it made me feel very proud of our thesis back in college. Our thesis was the effects of camera on people- whether they act 'normally" with or wihtout the camera, whether they act differently or if they act in their best manner if they are in front of a camera. Our conclusion was yes peope tend to act quite differently knowing that a camera is pointed at them. Perhaps not to all people, since many are used to it, but definitely to most poeple.
I mentioned our thesis, cause in the Senate Hearing this morning, it was mentioned that the media at the Manila Pen that day could have actually prevented the death and maybe torture of the Magdalo soldiers. Since there were cameras in the hotel, then the army couldn't harrass Trillanes. The military must act 'good' , since lenses are watching. If the media weren't there, imagine how it could have ended. The military could have waged war against Trillanes and probably lives could have been lost that day.
Athough, I must point that I do not agree with the siege. I think Trillanes 'overdid' it again. He could have just use his power as senator to clamor for changes. And if Trillanes 'overdid' it, I think the military had an "overkill". Why would they try to let a tank enter the hotel lobby??? OA
It's a good thing, everything ended peacefully with no deaths (except for the arrests on media). That day didn't really affect much of society. The country can now move on. It was just another normal day in the Phiippines.
