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(THREAD) Since we're talking about how the media needs to report things in full context, I just wanna bring up Mar's "the president is an Aquino" moment, and how the media covered it. This is not a discussion on the merits of what Mar said, so we can leave that part out for now.
This video was posted on Dec. 9, 2013. It shows us the infamous line, followed by a "bahala kayo" moment from Mar. It made the rounds on social media and really wasn't a good look for Mar.
But the video was also only 17 secs long and clearly spliced. https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=emb_title&v=g_oxV8ylgOI
But the video was also only 17 secs long and clearly spliced. https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=emb_title&v=g_oxV8ylgOI
The media eventually picked up the story. On Dec. 10, 2013, @PhilstarNews published this story with the headline "WATCH: Mar telling Tacloban mayor 'You are a Romualdez and the president is an Aquino'".
By this point, Mar had already made clarifications. https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/news-videos/2013/12/10/1266468/watch-mar-telling-tacloban-mayor-you-are-romualdez-and-president-aquino
By this point, Mar had already made clarifications. https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/news-videos/2013/12/10/1266468/watch-mar-telling-tacloban-mayor-you-are-romualdez-and-president-aquino
Mar said in a press conference that the quote was taken out of context.
PhilStar gave the clarification a paragraph at the end of the story, but did not include it in the headline.
Already, we see what could've been done better.
People share headlines, not stories.
PhilStar gave the clarification a paragraph at the end of the story, but did not include it in the headline.
Already, we see what could've been done better.
People share headlines, not stories.
This was a case of the headline being factual, but not completely truthful. And here's the clincher: PhilStar only reported on the edited clip that went viral, but NOT the full video, which ALSO went live on YouTube Dec 10, 2013. https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=emb_title&time_continue=159&v=PRAiyHX3WCI
The full context was readily available on the same day that PhilStar published their story.
PhilStar's headline was 100% factual, but it based its story on 17 seconds of a meeting that lasted at least 43 minutes, based on the full video, plus a reactionary presscon.
PhilStar's headline was 100% factual, but it based its story on 17 seconds of a meeting that lasted at least 43 minutes, based on the full video, plus a reactionary presscon.
On Dec 14, 2013, @rapplerdotcom shared the link to the full video and shared a partial transcript of Mar's and Romualdez' meeting--four days AFTER the video was posted. https://www.rappler.com/nation/transcript-romualdez-roxas-meeting-yolanda
In an effort to maintain impartiality, Rappler stuck to reporting just the facts and letting the reader make their own conclusions.
Even the headline was impartial: "Transcript: Romualdez, Roxas meet post-Yolanda".
But this may have been a mistake.
Even the headline was impartial: "Transcript: Romualdez, Roxas meet post-Yolanda".
But this may have been a mistake.
Reporting "just the facts" and leaving conclusions up to the readers allows for two possibilities:
1. Readers learn the truth, or
2. They don't.
The latter can be incredibly dangerous, which is why it's a journalist's duty to report *truths*.
1. Readers learn the truth, or
2. They don't.
The latter can be incredibly dangerous, which is why it's a journalist's duty to report *truths*.
It is factual that Mar said those things.
It is truthful to also point out that the video was edited, and that the longer video shows that the context behind those lines was edited out.
Journalists need to report the complete truth. But that alone isn't enough.
It is truthful to also point out that the video was edited, and that the longer video shows that the context behind those lines was edited out.
Journalists need to report the complete truth. But that alone isn't enough.
I'll say it again:
People share headlines, not stories.
It isn't enough to report the truth in the story. Most people don't even click on the links.
YOU NEED TO PUT THE TRUTH IN YOUR HEADLINES.
People share headlines, not stories.
It isn't enough to report the truth in the story. Most people don't even click on the links.
YOU NEED TO PUT THE TRUTH IN YOUR HEADLINES.
And this is where we need the media to step up, and I know this will hurt them a LOT.
Why?
Because truthful headlines don't get clicks, and fewer clicks means less income for media entities.
"Factual" headlines get more clicks than completely truthful ones.
Why?
Because truthful headlines don't get clicks, and fewer clicks means less income for media entities.
"Factual" headlines get more clicks than completely truthful ones.
People click and share things because of their strong emotional responses to them. Headlines aren't immune to that.
You'll share headlines that make you angry, sad, happy. Headlines that show the complete truth are boring because balance softens emotional responses.
You'll share headlines that make you angry, sad, happy. Headlines that show the complete truth are boring because balance softens emotional responses.
If you want to make money, it's in your best interests to go with the more emotionally triggering headlines because those get the most shares.
But if you want to perform your journalistic duty of speaking truth to power... Well, you know what to do.
But if you want to perform your journalistic duty of speaking truth to power... Well, you know what to do.
Am I idealistic for wanting more of the latter? Yes.
But are we in deep shit all over the world right now because clickbait-y headlines from reputable news agencies have adversely impacted our ability to discern what is truthful from what is merely just factual?
Also yes.
But are we in deep shit all over the world right now because clickbait-y headlines from reputable news agencies have adversely impacted our ability to discern what is truthful from what is merely just factual?
Also yes.
Journalism should be seen less as a career, and more a responsibility.
I trust news media more than your average celebrity blogger, but they seriously need to do better. Lives are literally endangered when the truth becomes secondary to profit.
(/Thread)
I trust news media more than your average celebrity blogger, but they seriously need to do better. Lives are literally endangered when the truth becomes secondary to profit.
(/Thread)
Addendum:
Make this search on Google
"roxas romualdez before:2014-01-01 after:2013-12-08"
You'll see that the news tended to focus their headlines on the drama behind the matter, rather than the truth.
Because that's what gets clicks.
Sigh.
Make this search on Google
"roxas romualdez before:2014-01-01 after:2013-12-08"
You'll see that the news tended to focus their headlines on the drama behind the matter, rather than the truth.
Because that's what gets clicks.
Sigh.
