NEXT to the greater Manila area, Davao City has the biggest concentration of tri-media establishments –half a dozen dailies and more than 30 weekly publications, half a dozen television stations, including those which are seen only on cable TV, and FM and AM radio stations. In terms of spreading news and information, add to them the internet-able news agencies, all based in Davao.
Unfortunately, the number of media and new media outlets is not a guarantee that the public can get the quantity and quality of news and information that they deserve. Some of the readers or listeners, especially those with discriminating taste, regard the media outlets as nothing but adding to the cacophony and confusion.
Fortunately for the Davao public, there are media establishments whose workers are competent and do their best to shine in the performance of their journalistic responsibility. For instance, observant TV watchers are impressed with the performance of local GMA News in pursuing new and unique angles instead of the ho-hum stuff that usually make up local TV news, digging up public issues and being first to be at the scene of fast-breaking news. But the most impressive things about GMA News are the regular features on lives of penury and want in the hinterlands, their coverage of the poignant life of Hiyas ng Kadayawan Mernadeth Sicutan and, lately, their plucky expose of the motorist in an SUV who violated traffic laws in full view of closed-circuit television. The car was later traced to a top official of the Toyota auto distributor here. No wonder it took an Ombudsman’s order, acting on a petition by GMA News, to persuade 911 Central to release the incriminating CCTV recording.
GMA News’ kind of sincere service (serbisyong totoo) can help grow public trust, not only in itself, but also other media establishments that have the same mindset and format.
