IT WAS in college when I first heard of envelopmental journalism in contrast to developmental journalism. My teacher then, Gus Miclat Jr., taught us that some journalists are AC-DC and envelopmental journalists.
AC-DC were those who would be hired to attack or defend specific offices or personalities. This would mean broadcasting or publishing biased stories.
The same would go for those activities where they would defend people or organizations. It was called ‘envelopmental’ in reference to the cash payments that would be placed inside envelopes as cheques would be traceable.
Then I heard something new - presstitutes which is a portmanteau of press and prostitutes. It is an oblique allegation that the media tailors or twists news to fit a particular agenda.
This refers to “journalists and talking heads in the mainstream media who give biased and predetermined views in favor of the government and corporations, thus neglecting their fundamental duty of reporting news impartially.
Presstitute is said to have been coined by Gerald Celente, the publisher of the Trends Journal, an American trend forecaster, business consultant and author “who makes predictions about the global financial markets and other events of historical importance.”
Who are the presstitutes? Pete Laviña used it to refer to some members of the mainstream media who were churning story after story criticizing the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo R. Duterte (PRRD). Then there’s celebrity blogger Mocha Uson who called popular television and major newspaper companies as legit presstitutes in her blog entries.
On the other hand, some claim that Uson is herself the presstitute as she slams just about anyone who opposes PRRD and his kin.
Then I read an interview of Pope Francis that has upped the ante of how social media is used for the wrong reasons. The Pope compared scandal-obsessed media outlets that smear politicians and spread gossip to people sexually excited by excrement – and described their readers as feces eaters.
“Disinformation is probably the biggest evil a (communications) medium can inflict, because it steers opinions in one direction, omitting part of the truth,” said the Pope.
“I believe the media must be much clearer, more transparent, and not fall – excuse the expression – into coprophilia, which is always wanting to broadcast scandals, ugly things, true though they may be,” said the 79-year old Argentine. And adds that coprophagia (eating feces or scandals) is very harmful and calls it a sin. Prostituting is another but eating feces and enjoying it? Well.
Ateneo de Manila University President Jett Villarin has also called on the Katipunan community for discernment in the use of social media as “social media can be deceptive and manipulative. Inaccurate, even shrill.”
He cited sharing sites from dubious sources do not advance any argument and further warns about sharing hearsay, falling for stereotypical answers, self-inflation and feeding trolls. The Jesuit president further called trolls as only “interested in shouting and burning instead of dialoguing and building.”
He also added living for the “likes” or for social media popularity does not necessarily lead to “wisdom or the greater good.”
Just like anything else that we can access freely, the freedom to express is prone to abuse. With social media, that freedom (or abuse) has just become quicker - in the flick of a finger. So I go back to what I have been taught by Gus Miclat Jr. lightyears ago, that writing for an audience (or for the public) is a tough job.
He also reminded us with something similar to what I read from David Sedaris: writing gives you the illusion of control, and then you realize it’s just an illusion, that people are going to bring their own stuff into it.
