Recently, Typhoon Ruby struck Visayas.
During the time it was approaching Philippines, it got stronger and stronger
until it became a Super typhoon and is feared to bring the same power and
destruction like Super Typhoon Yolanda. During one episode of TV Patrol, its
main anchors, Ted Failon, Noli De Castro and Korina Sanchez were doing their
usual banter at the tail-end of the newscast when Sanchez and de Castro made
side comments and shared their opinions live on the air.
Sanchez said, “Kaya pa natin idasal
yan para lumihis." (We can still pray to change its direction.)
De Castro then commented, “Sana ay
hati na lang tayo." (I wish we could split the storm) “Kalahati sa
Pilipinas, kalahati sa Japan (Half of it for the Philippines, half for Japan),”
De Castro said, to which Sanchez replied, “Puwede bang sa kanila na lang
lahat?" (Can’t they have all of it?)
De Castro then said “Wag naman” hopefully
not, but Korina defended her stand, saying “Sa kanila na lang lahat. Parang mas
kaya nila." (Let them have it all. It seems that they can handle it
better).
Korina’s remarks have caused an uproar
in social media, calling her insensitive and irresponsible. I understand the
fact that she is only concerned for her people, like praying for the typhoon to
change its direction but the fact that she involved Japan on her comments can
be considered as an ethical lapse. Keep in mind that she is one of the top
broadcasters in the country and she is one of ABS-CBN’s most famous news
anchors. Her opinions matter and it can easily influence a lot of people.
Korina Sanchez is known for many
unethical comments on air. I believe it is time for her to change this kind of
attitude. In my opinion, there is no problem in making side comments of
subjects on air as long as they are neutral and not subjective because these
side comments can also be helpful like presenting facts from the other side
that the viewers don’t know. Besides, they are the people with the most
experience and they are credible enough to handle these kinds of stories and
information but I really believe that a media personality should value
neutrality in giving comments. Your goal is to inform and educated the public
and not to persuade them. Maybe it is time for Sanchez to listen carefully to
herself before she opens her mouth. She needs to think twice about what she’s
going to say especially when she is live during national television or via
radio and the internet.
2012-15300 (2)
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ABS-CBN news anchor Korina Sanchez
became viral on social media again for her controversial comments on Typhoon
Ruby. This is the second time in recent Philippine TV memory that this veteran
news anchor made headlines; the first was when she commented on-air about CNN
journalist Anderson Cooper during the Typhoon Yolanda. This time, Korina, along
with her two co-anchors, was about to end the their on-air program TV Patrol
when she said that she hoped Typhoon Ruby would hit Japan instead of the Philippines.
Her comment drew anger from netizens. A satirical website The Adobo Chronicles even made satire news about Japan banning
Korina from their country. Why do media still tolerate such irresponsible news
commentaries?
According to KBP Broadcast Code,
Article 2. Section 2, “public affair programs and commentaries shall be handled
only by persons who have thorough knowledge and practice broadcast ethics.”
Given this ethical standard in broadcasting, Korina Sanchez is guilty of a
broadcaster who does not practice broadcast ethics. Korina probably was
motivated by her freedom of speech to express her opinion regarding her hope
for Typhoon Ruby to hit Japan instead; it is still an act of irresponsible
reporting. KBP preamble posits, “broadcasting, because of its immediate and
lasting impact on the public, demands of its practitioners a high sense of
responsibility, morality, fairness and honesty at all times.”
This is not the first time Korina
made rude or harsh commentaries. Since she is a prominent figure in
broadcasting, it is important that she gets another briefing about the ethical
broadcasting standards.
(2009-25438)
