My Poynter Plus

Shutting Down Investigative Journalism Units

2009-07-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

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For Article: NPR president: The biggest crisis in journalism is happening at the local level

Posted by Jane Abao 7/28/2009 12:02:52 AM

I would say shutting down the unit is okay if announced – for cost cutting measures perhaps. But to go ahead and pretend you have one is bullshit. Why have the nerve to shout to the world you are House of Truth if you even glamorize a professional liar, using him as a resource person?

My apologies to NPR for not having their case in mind as I comment here. My mind is on a giant broadcasting network called GMA7 in the Philippines that had just shown a program called Case Unclosed. The news tagline of this network says “Not siding with anyone; not protecting anyone; just genuine service.” And then it brands itself as House of Truth.

Through Arnold Clavio, host of the program, GMA7 risked the reputation of a crusading international preacher fearless for exposing false practices. Incidentally, the preacher’s camp has proofs that the network is under the influence of the Iglesia ni Cristo, a church group mighty in strength for their bloc-voting practices. In effect, the country’s system including that of justice is compromised.

News again in the name of profit?

2009-04-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

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NPR ombud defends airing girl's screams in report from Pakistan

Posted by Jane Abao 4/27/2009 12:27:42 AM

The use of screams in news per se do not make the news sensational. It is how they were presented in the whole make-up of the news. Were they repeated? Prolonged? Too loud? How do they come in relation to the other parts of the news? Much emphasized? Was the flogger saying anything while the girl was screaming? Not audible? Is there scanty background provided for the audience to understand the reason for flogging?

If the answer is yes for most of these questions, chances are the effects were calculated to be theatrical to court the attention of the public. It can be said to be self-serving and yes, sensational.

News again in the name of profit?

Liecaster steals name of Truthcaster, posts a slander and gets a shut-up

2009-02-04T21:36:00.000-08:00

A man who stole the name of Preacher Eliseo Soriano goes online in NowPublic.com to humiliate the owner of that name but gets a warning for closure for possible slander.

Identified as Conrad J. Obligacion in Topix.net, this guy sporting the name, "Truthcaster" ironically has Eliseo Soriano as his object of destruction. Evangelist Soriano has been for years sporting the name, “Truthcaster” in his Bible Expositions online. From his many years of broadcasting truth, he is known as Truthcaster in many quarters.

The unidentified reporter with clear connections with the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) posted a story on January 21, 2009 titled “Behind Phillip Garcia’s libelous ramblings” in Nowpublic.com. Garcia earlier wrote in another news site, in Newsvine.com an article titled, “Behind the Iglesia ni Cristo’s King Maker Role: A Chain of Crimes and Mythical Numbers”.

The INC is publicly known for filing case after case against the preacher, using for witnesses people that Soriano had excommunicated from the Ang Dating Daan (ADD) group. The latest was that they had Soriano on the Interpol’s wanted list for “Sex Crimes.” Soriano had earlier excommunicated a gay from his congregation who was found out from investigations that he had raped some 14 of his subordinates. In retaliation, Daniel Veridiano, alias “Puto” filed a rape case against the preacher. This was when he had to leave Soriano’s group where he could no longer be accepted for flagrant disobedience to church doctrines.

The rape case filed by Puto against the preacher was dismissed by the regional court of Pampanga but for unknown reasons, it had been re-filed by Raul Gonzalez, the Secretary of Justice, himself who had no connections with the case. The INC is very influential with the Philippine government arising from its bloc voting practice. As a result, the INC endorsement is heavily sought for by politicians, local and national.

Soriano is widely known for exposing false prophets. When he has to discuss biblical truth, he is inevitably led to discuss the false teachings of so-called churches. One of those he had been criticizing wildly is the Iglesia ni Cristo who claims Christ is a human being aside from other claims, and collects tithes after tithes. As a result, many INC members have left their fold.

The reporter said, “After reading the piece I begin to understand that this Phillip Garcia does not have any idea whatsoever what libel is.” Garcia, however, was able to present as many sources as he could.

The unidentified INC supporter had posted Soriano’s picture and had captioned it “Interpol Wanted Poster” although it was Garcia he was supposed to deal with. He also posted Phillip Garcia’s picture.

NowPublic.com’s moderator, Amyjudd, however flagged the story and had required the unidentified reporter to improve his story. She said, "the site does not allow posts that slander someone personally" and that "we feel that the post indeed does just that." “Whatever your purpose is with this post, this may not be the way to go about it,” the moderator said.

On February 4, 2009, the moderator closed the thread saying that the poster failed to come up to expectations: “I am closing this comment thread due to the author’s lack of action to deal with the wrench on [his] post.”

Relative to this kind of work, in 2008, Rizalino L. Arrabis, another member of the Iglesia ni Cristo had been posting a hundred-and-one personal attacks against Soriano. They had been deleted, however, by Rob Walker, another moderator in NowPublic.com who had issued him a warning. Walker noticed Arrabis' penchant for starting his comments by twisting everyone's name, and then would follow up with some verbal venom.

Arrabis had been posting his attacks in relation to two posts looking for Eraño Manalo who was not responding to Soriano's challenge to a debate to defend his teachings. The story can be found in INC shouts: "Where is Sir Erano Manalo? and INC still shouts: "Where is Sir Erano Manalo?. Both of these can be found in NowPublic.com.

Cloud Journalism: Technology-wise yes, but Precarious

2009-01-15T16:45:00.001-08:00

Posted by Jane Abao 1/15/2009 7:40:26 PM

In response to "Cloud Journalism and the Fate of Beats"

I have doubts about this cloud journalism thing. While beats allow the reporter to immerse himself in his surroundings and get first-hand information, this cloud thing would have to depend on server credibility. While beat reporting would encourage enriching the news according to the context found by the reporter, CJ depends a lot on those handed down by servers. Lisa Williams’ Global Post, as discussed by Amy Gahran appears more to highlight these discrepancies.

It is technology helping us at the same time giving us liabilities. When misused, this kind of service can give our subject (of all that our readership can constitute) a lot of headaches.

Referring to Amazon's EC2 service, Williams is said for example to describe it as cloud computing, and are opaque. I agree.

Why? “Because you don't care what's in them, just that you get reliable utility from servers and storage that are in the cloud.” That's a quote from Williams.

Post Public Comments? Yes!

2008-06-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

For Article: Journos: Do You Post Public Comments? Why/Why Not?
Posted by Jane Abao 6/3/2008 9:12:05 PM

I engage in public conversation online regularly mostly on concerns in the field of communication. I feel that when I read something or come to know of something that needs to be corrected, or interacted with, I do not refuse to comment. It is an obligation I set upon myself as someone educated in journalism and communication. I believe that every communicator must be responsible and that includes holding onto any form of business that deals with public communication.

I am very transparent in the fact that I use my legal name as much as possible. It is part of building credibility. I even use my own pictures. I am not afraid of enemies or people who oppose my beliefs. It is the same philosophy I teach my students.

Because of my transparency, it has somehow affected my journalism. People incognito with usernames attack me about anything if they oppose my ideas and beliefs. How do I get to fight with Working Girl, for example? What is her legal name and who is she? And yet she deigns to teach me how I should be operating on a news site as editor. She preferred that I post positives about the country for tourists to read, while I preferred posting about the corruption going on. But what does she know about journalism?

How about THE TRUTH and Meeker? These are just usernames that can change from time to time. We can never know anything about them, their credibility in what they say, and yet they can attack you, accuse you of anything. With what they say, the crawler can pick them up and place them on the web. Pronto! That’s a reality added to your metadata. Then when somebody Googles you up and read those parts, don’t expect that people’s beliefs about you have not changed a bit.

There is a way to fight this, however. Holding on to truth and taking care of your credibility over the years can work for you during times that you need them most. Then you can afford to ignore the trolls that come your way and trouble you.

More lessons for blogsite managers

2008-05-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

For Article: Getting Commenters to Play Nice
Posted by Jane Abao 5/8/2008 9:11:54 PM

Amy, thanks for the tips.

There's a blogsite that features news pages for 89 countries. I represent my country as editor. It was exciting in the beginning, feeling you can do something to better your country by selective posting of news and then readers comment.

Unfortunately, as time went by, the lack of moderation showed its negative character. There were more anonymous commenters who could interpolate their names at any time. Trolls abound who squat on the topics so that they are never discussed. Instead, the editor who posts the stories for the day for comments is accused of being off-topic. Meanwhile, the commenters make their day by socializing, exchanging rumors, and planning picnics. It was really exasperating.

The blogsite is relatively new [about 3 years] and has the potential of helping communities but I just guess the problem lies on management. The moderators, that is. There are not enough features for the news page editors to control the comments.

Discouraging no, critiquing si

2008-05-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

For Article: Journalism: A Toxic Culture? (Or: Why Aren't We Having More Fun?)
Posted by Jane Abao 5/7/2008 8:25:15 PM

That's true. Journalists are supposed to be fundamentally curious and profoundly interested in what's happening around them.

You're right. It's time to stop discouraging each other.

This doesn't mean we stop trying to critique each one's work and stop debating with each other's viewpoints. It is part of our growth as journalists.

There is a world of difference between critiquing and discouraging. The second one refers more to how the one criticized reacts.

Beyond mere spoofing

2008-05-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

For Article: Spoof London Marathon Photos Slip Past Sky News
Posted by Jane Abao 4/21/2008 8:46:51 PM

I don't know if time constraints is a good reason not to react to these spoofs people. They are fools anyway and any countering you do will motivate them to work for more.

What we do in my organization is to produce more positives and counter their negatives with them. I am not just talking about still shots but those morphed for videos in YouTube. It is not a one-time affair but a resolute attempt to destroy, so it goes beyond mere spoofing. I hope we can talk about this next time.

World of Difference

2008-05-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

For Article: Why are Web and Print STILL So Separate?
Posted by Jane Abao 3/26/2008 11:49:40 PM

True, there is a world of difference between web and print especially as regards decisions. Web publications are fast, changing and not permanent unlike the other. When you have to submit articles for approval in the first, I guess you may only submit the URL, not the hard copy. In web, you may have to edit your posting anytime, reinforce your arguments here and there later as you deem fit, and add or delete what you may have overlooked.

Requiring a writer to submit hard copy for online posting means chopping off guarded opportunities for the writer to edit his copy at a later time. It also implies that once something is submitted to somebody who has to do some approval, the responsibility for the post falls now on that person approving, which is never true for as long as the writer has the byline.

It is a reality that those in management who check writers' work do not fully know the intricacies involved in web work as different from print work. Have you ever been involved in so-called web war? You'll know what I mean from experience.

I go for Google!

2008-05-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

For Article: World's Publishers v. Google: The Fight Continues
Posted by Jane Abao 3/17/2008 9:17:30 PM

Advertising is not the only path to validate content. There is indeed a business model that says "I rather pay for something than have to endure a 30 second TV Commercial before I get it".

I agree.

Norbert Specker has explained it so fully.

Not my expectation of responsible journalists

2008-05-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

For Article: Angry Journalists Can Be a Good Thing
Posted by Jane Abao 3/13/2008 9:33:13 PM

I looked into AngryJournalist.com to find out what it is about. I was not impressed.

There is no sense of responsibility encouraged by the anonymity of those posting the reasons for their anger. I would prefer reading those with real names of people standing by their ideas and opinions, and wanting to defend them unless proven wrong.

It was not what I had expected of responsible journalists.

BAD EDITING

2008-01-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

For Article: What Makes Reporting and Blogging Successful?
Posted by Jane Abao 1/14/2008 8:59:23 PM

Journalists take deadlines seriously. Yes, that should be. And yes, they generally report better – than bloggers. That is the way journalists had been trained. However, beating deadlines has nothing much to do with “bad reporting.” Looking at some writing as “bad reporting” so that the editor makes some material changes would not augur well for truth. Correct judgement is called for. I had a bad experience regarding some editing made on my story that ended as the opposite of what I had intended.

In a feature story where I wrote about a beggar child south of my country, I had intended to let the public know about government neglect on street children. My character was one that slept on cement floors in some streets during the day and roamed around the city to steal food and enjoy his world at night. The police caught up with him and had him placed at a boy’s town. He had escaped back to his world of his own when a matron brought him home for some Christmas vacation. Now, it was government neglect I had wanted to showcase but the editor twisted the story and rendered an ignorant child rejecting the confines of government with donations from benevolent spirits - not to exclude those from other countries. Yes, the child got fed up of life where he was just a specimen. Had he enjoyed those camera shots of visitors? You bet, he did. But he had wanted freedom. This beggar child was Every-beggar-child on the streets.

It’s time we ask the journalists what they think about “bad editing.”

THE PROFIT ANGLE

2008-01-14T18:12:00.000-08:00

For Article: Obama Wins in U.K. Headlines
Posted by Jane Abao 1/10/2008 8:04:39 PM

Yes, credibility is that important for any news system. But what obtains is that as though being first in the race to report is all there is to it. I had the experience of trying to buy a broad sheet one morning on my way to the city. I saw some of them displayed at one corner, and when I glanced at the headlines, they appeared engaged in a debate of sorts.

It is not only in names that newspapers struggle to get ahead and report, and then fail to make the mark when after a few hours, the day exposes them as guessing. It is also in numbers, but with this kind, they seem not to care enough. Why? Because the customer of the day might think the one with the greatest number may have covered the latest of the event.

There was a case of a tsunami that occurred south of my country not many years ago. One broadsheet stood out from among the rest for reporting the greatest number of fatalities. It was not my favorite paper, but thinking that it may have the latest accounts and the most details, I bought the paper. Tsunami and its effects stretches for weeks, even months, and so with its news coverage. Later on, I found out that this paper has the habit of bloating figures whenever there are events of this kind.

You bet, customers will find out about the truth later on – about the profit angle – after comparing news from other sources and after a time of dealing with these news systems.

Journalists' Pledge of Commitment

2008-01-14T18:09:00.000-08:00

For Article: Denmark: Time for a Journalistic Oath?
Posted by Jane Abao 1/9/2008 8:13:39 PM

I have produced a Pledge of Commitment for my group of writers who profess to be Christians. I got a line from somewhere about pledging oneself to serve God first, last, and best in everything one is called upon to be or do. Then I selected some lines from Dan Gillmor's “Citizen Journalist Pledge.”

Yes, I picked the one on accuracy as in “I report and produce news explaining the facts as fairly, thoroughly, accurately and openly as I can.”

I noticed the way Dan Gillmor couched connections and I think this is crucial. Connections should also be hashed out.

In the Pledge, it says, “I may also provide reviews (such as a critique of a movie or book) and commentary with a point of view based on facts, but I will have no significant financial or otherwise direct connection (membership, affiliation, close relationship, etc.) with an interested party. If I do have such connections, I'll disclose them prominently, and my work may be labeled and/or categorized appropriately.”

Sixth “W” Smart but of a Different Level

2008-01-14T18:07:00.000-08:00

For Article: The New "Sixth W"
Posted by Jane Abao 12/26/2007 8:59:55 PM

Yes, that’s smart! “What’s next” as the sixth “W” of Rich Boehne, that is. Too often, we deal with just reproductions of events. Highlighting on what’s next gives the reader a view on future plans and perspectives. It gives reporters outside of the organization an idea on what to watch out for. Once the “What’s next” is given, it behooves the subject of news to realize the “What’s next” as announced and as expected by the audience or readership. The problem with this is that the “What’s next” is of a different level. It has not yet happened and subject to time and its vagaries – and the audience may mistake it for fact.

Name the Source

2007-12-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

For Article: Should File Photos be Identified?
Posted by Jane Abao 12/21/2007 6:31:15 PM

The audience has all the right to know the source of whatever information is being given it, whether in print, in television or whatever medium. The importance of identifying the source is that it is tied to the credibility of the news being presented. Without the source being named, the information stands as mere gossip.

Miss Embargo

2007-12-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

For Article: China's Netizens Want More Government Control
Posted by Jane Abao 12/19/2007 8:01:56 PM

China's middle name is actually "Control" or "Embargo." How about a research telling us in what way this practice of controlling publications has helped their people? I would also want to know what kind of journalists they are breeding in there since they cannot write freely.

Your added info

2007-12-22T16:27:00.000-08:00

For Article: Matthew Murray and The Dark Side of Support Forums
Posted by Jane Abao 12/12/2007 8:44:57 PM

Amy, thanks a lot for all these information. I would not have understood better that news written in Denver Post had you not given these info on Murray's postings. They provide a rich background into appreciating the shooting story. I was thinking it was more of having no room at the inn.

AP doing that?

2007-12-22T16:23:00.001-08:00

For Article: Controlling Crawlers on News Sites
Posted by Jane Abao 12/5/2007 8:42:42 PM

Time was when AP was synonymous to objectivity. I likes it's role when it comes to newswriting. I hope times haven't changed its mindset.

Time Check

2007-12-22T15:57:00.000-08:00

For Article: How & When to Credit Bloggers?
Posted by Jane Abao 12/5/2007 8:32:02 PM

Consider the time the story was first posted. So the phrase, "First posted in xx by xx" may be used. The overriding consideration, however, should be the reporter's sense of ethics in properly giving credit to whom credit is due.

Gatekeeping considers more the what and why

2007-12-10T05:50:00.000-08:00

For Article: OJR: Decline of the Gatekeepers
Posted by Jane Abao 11/28/2007 7:42:38 PM

spoof.com is spoof.com. But as long as it purports to teach newswriting out of jokes and imagination, any gatekeeper of legitimate communication should sit up and take notice. That it should teach newswriting out of its kind of news is not in proper order. In fact, it has come to a point that some think there is such a thing as satiric news.

Gatekeeping doesn't consider much the WHO, more than the WHAT and WHY

AP doing that?

2007-12-10T05:46:00.000-08:00

Time Check

2007-12-10T05:43:00.000-08:00

Be original, please!

2007-12-10T04:53:00.000-08:00

For Article: Five W's + H That Should Come AFTER Any Story
Posted by Jane Abao 11/20/2007 10:37:46 PM

I rather think that using the 5W’s and H in the way you did, robs the learner’s attention away from the 5W’s and H in presenting leads of the story. Over the years, journalism students have been honed to take care of their leads this way.

Can’t you be original?

Military blogging has found its time

2007-12-07T17:37:00.000-08:00

For Article: Milbloggers to Journos: Can You Hear Us Now?
Posted by Jane Abao 11/9/2007 6:37:33 PM

This is exciting! So, will there be no categories such as classified information, secret, confidential, for your eyes only, and such terms? No holds barred?

Journalists as Hackers

2007-12-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

For Article: Dutch Ministry Hacks Newswire's Editorial System
Posted by Jane Abao 11/7/2007 5:31:50 PM

Oh, so it was former GDP journalists after all who do the hacking - probably more anxious for scoops and news leads than anything else. No, I don't think it's the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs that is jittery about anything that could be published.

Journalists are into everywhere and into everything. Before the Internet days, I remember I've been part of a reporters' group that has its thrash boxes with padlocks. At any time, newsmen from different newspapers of the country would hang around our office. There was a time my feature story about medics doing voluntary work south of the country was stolen. It appeared in a major newspaper not long after, with the first paragraph chopped off and written with another name.

More of Paypal

2007-12-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

For Article: Paypal: Not So Friendly Outside U.S.
Posted by Jane Abao 10/15/2007 10:41:58 PM

I have just signed up for a Paypal account although I had already read of many horror stories about Paypal. The agency I work for had recommended that we shift to this mode. My account remains unverified though, as I try to look into these stories before I finally complete the process.

As I see it, your problem is small compared to the problems written here. I will just give you two sites -

http://www.paypalwarning.com/
http://www.aboutpaypal.org/home

Blogger Vs. Journalist

2007-12-07T17:20:00.000-08:00

For Article: Chris Allbritton Isn't a Blogger (Or Is He?)
Posted by Jane Abao 9/4/2007 10:00:17 PM

Eventually, we will have to face this dichotomy. Google, for one, classifies almost everyone as a blogger who now claim to be journalists and it isn’t fair. This urgency for definition of terms comes in the wake of having to determine the rights of one. Journalists are covered with some rights and rightfully so.

A journalist may blog but that doesn’t lower his category to mere blogger. The first is a higher calling. A journalist is more disciplined in his writing; a blogger is not. A journalist is more careful in his craft; a blogger is not. A journalist has a wider perspective, has social awareness; a blogger only looks to himself, is very much self-oriented.

A journalist would look into what is happening in society and he writes about that and its implications as well. He looks beyond himself. On the other hand, a blogger would only talk about his concerns, his thoughts, and doesn’t follow principles in the way he writes and the way he treats topics. Simply look at one’s work and you can tell whether one is just a blogger or a journalist.

Never Wikipedia

2007-12-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

For Article: Teaching Online Skills: J Prof Wants Ideas
Posted by Jane Abao 8/24/2007 6:59:51 PM

Dave wrote, “We're running a wiki, but I would never let a student cite a wiki as a source in a news story.” Is this the same thing as saying NEVER WIKIPEDIA? People who ask for research jobs shun away from this source like it’s got leprosy. Unfair, you say? I read this source, too, but never cite it as reference.

Accountability, not Credit

2007-12-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

For Article: Let Bylines be Bygone?
Posted by Jane Abao 8/23/2007 11:15:09 PM

Why bygone? I agree with some others that bylines are about accountability and not about credit. Bylines are what readers look for. They stand for author responsibility. When a writer’s name is attached to what he or she has written, he or she is in fact saying I stand by what I wrote, that what I have written here are true to the best of my knowledge. If the article has been written in collaboration, fine. The names of all the reporters should be found there. I would not recommend for multiple author bylines [to include editor, photographer, proofreader, staff, and the like. This is stupid!] unless an event was covered simultaneously but viewed from many angles.

Responsibility in Names

2007-12-02T19:02:00.000-08:00

For Article: Now Learning from NowPublic
Posted by Jane Abao 8/16/2007 9:39:42 PM

I like the name, NowPublic.com. It promises a lot about what news could become from seeming insignificance to significance in the ever-careful watch of the public, not just for one sitting but as far as it could go. The anonymity of the writers, however, discount on the pluses of the name of the site. It doesn’t add anything to the credibility feature, yet can make the source appear dubious. The writer, not having a legal name to protect, has lesser burden to come up credible in its contents. Isn’t there wisdom in requiring journalists to sport legal names?

Beta problem also in blogging

2007-12-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

For Article: Is Gmail Picking Up All Your E-mail?
Posted by Jane Abao 8/13/2007 10:06:43 PM

My problems in blogging also started when I shifted to beta. Now, I had to abandon five blogs in one. I could not open to them anymore despite many contacts with their technical department. I am wondering now what's in beta that causes problems. Sophistication?

Norbert, the Fish

2007-12-02T18:57:00.000-08:00

For Article: Community-Growing Tips from BlogHer
Posted by Jane Abao 7/30/2007 9:17:43 PM

I had meant to post for your Aoki awhile back. I agree with her about moderator burnout. In fact, I for one got so tired of a site where I am a moderator by invitation but couldn’t find a good reason to opt out. I had developed a pool of writers there and I felt it would be treachery to leave them behind. Nevertheless, I don’t have the usual fire now that I had before. Norbert? This is fresh air. Even now, I feel it is amusing and at the same time exciting. Thanks for the idea.

Are they Journalists?

2007-12-02T18:54:00.000-08:00

For Article: Connecting Entrepreneurial Journalists
Posted by Jane Abao 7/18/2007 10:26:03 PM

The problem with these entrepreneurs (Journalists? I wouldn’t call them that!) is that they are into everywhere including citizen journalism sites. They write about nothing else but their products which they advertise, and they flood the sites with this kind of writing. Truth to tell, this is not the journalism we know. How on earth did they become journalists in the true sense? Would you be kind enough to look for a more appropriate term for them?

Principle of Proximity

2007-11-01T04:58:00.000-07:00

For Article: News Lessons from Ireland, U.K.
Posted by Jane Abao 7/17/2007 11:26:55 PM

One reason news stories are not useable is that they do not tie up well with the readers for want of the element of proximity. Right so! Going local is important in that people find they can relate to the items in the story. So what if the story is great but has nothing to do with its immediate environment?

Bloggers should do some learning first

2007-11-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

For Article: 35 Bloggers Banned from Danish News Site
Posted by Jane Abao 7/9/2007 8:44:27 PM

For those who have no inkling about journalistic principles, the first thing they do once given a chance is to write something against anybody. The second one is to give sermons. The third one is to think the power of the pen is to destroy. Nothing beyond that. Not all bloggers engage in unprincipled writing, but most of them are self-oriented. This clearly marks the need for them to educate themselves first before doing any blogging.

More Research Needed Here

2007-11-01T04:51:00.000-07:00

For Article: China: Foreign Correspondents Rely More on Blogs
Posted by Jane Abao 7/4/2007 9:11:17 PM

I doubt if her finding can be generalized - that webloggers and professional journalists complement each other. What are the stats? Ask more of the latter and they may say the undisciplined writing and tendency of webloggers to be self-oriented comes much in the way.

Techies to Write?

2007-11-01T04:46:00.000-07:00

For Article: Medill: Techies Go to J-School
Posted by Jane Abao 6/27/2007 2:17:36 AM

One of the things I’m dying to do is make use of website designers who have become bloggers to learn to write tenably and eventually become a part of our group of writers. I’ve made some inroads on that actually, providing even lectures for them to cope with disciplined writing. However, I have come to the realization that, indeed, the Creator had not generally pooled multiple talents in individuals. Although attempting to culture this kind of people to be good in both counts, the norm still is that some may be good in the technical aspect but weak in editorial concerns. It is also true the other way around.

Wordreference Forums

2007-10-30T17:51:00.000-07:00

For Article: What's That Word?
Posted by Jane Abao 5/31/2007 5:33:29 PM

At Wordreference.com, editors and word experts answer questions promptly. They debate at times and it is very interesting to read how they try to tackle issues. They recognize that there is a thin dividing line between what is dialectical and what is Standard English.

When I posed the question of Standard English, I got a long, long listing of message history extending to some five days interaction. There’s never a dull moment with them there. It may be because the members of the forum come from versatile backgrounds.

A Journalist Writes for the Public

2007-10-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

For Article: Who's a Blogger, and/or Who's a Journalist?
Posted by Jane Abao 5/24/2007 8:02:19 PM

The way to tell a journalist from a mere blogger is to look at a considerable portion of a person’s work, including the story at issue. A journalist would follow principles from the way she writes her titles, to the way she structures her story, to the way she treats data, and to the way she is oriented.

A blogger cannot tell a well-crafted headline from a text line. They are usually long and taken from the body text of the story; hence these are called bloglines, not headlines. A blogger has no idea of structure and does not respect why structures should be so. She plays her story writing by the ear and imitates what she thinks are proper. Mostly, a blogger is self-oriented and has no consciousness for societal needs in news. For example, she would be writing more for her own interests than the interests of the public.

I would take the last as a measure of last resort. If she wrote her story such that society can benefit from her publication of the story, then she may be considered a journalist and entitled to all the rights of a journalist.

It should not be the medium that should determine whether one is a journalist or not. Whether she was writing for a newspaper or merely using Google or Wordpress or Yahoo or any other site to beat her story is of no consequence.

Unstructuring in this Century

2007-10-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

For Article: Time for a Journalism Unconference?
Posted by Jane Abao 5/15/2007 10:09:02 PM

Wow! This is exciting!

Let me quote the features you put out: Totally unstructured; agenda isn't determined until the opening day of the event.

Isn't this along the concept of Stygmergy?

Everyone who shows up is a potential speaker. Those who don't speak contribute by posting photos, blog entries, podcasts, and video clips of the proceedings. Attendance is almost always inexpensive or free."

Unconference? I think we are all in for unstructuring the structured, just as our world is becoming borderless, and communication has taken on a more powerful stance as a medium of expression.

More power to citizen journalism!

Blogging work mostly self-oriented, but

2007-10-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

For Article: Chinese Internet: Creator of Modern Icons
Posted by Jane Abao 4/25/2007 9:20:22 PM

The Internet has finally leveled off the playing field for everybody. With traditional media, we read only a few people and are restricted to their own thinking. Whenever we wanted something published, we either had to pay, reach out to those already ensconced there to help us, or send our items to the editor who may not pay attention to what we wrote. Now, it’s different, thanks to the Internet that has given us many avenues to be able to write to the world. May there be many more examples of this blogger.

Personally, I find most blogging work undisciplined, unlearned, and mostly self-oriented. In other words, mostly trash. However, there are a few useful ones worth paying attention to.

Google with more credits in the bag

2007-10-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

For Article: Google Says Sorry for Stealing
Posted by Jane Abao 4/9/2007 11:39:25 PM

Stealing or not, it doesn't minify my belief in the leadership of Google for its past service to the public, especially so that it has admitted to its wrong doing. This "stealing" issue, by the way, has to be seen in its whole context rather than on a piece-meal release of the facts involved. Just this one isolated incident about the Pinyin Input Method Editor dictionary cannot afford to completely blot out Google's credibility. It still has lots of credits in most people's pockets, I presume. Google is competent enough in its main task of delivering service to the public. Those credits may only be forfeited for failure, incompetence, abuse and self-serving behaviour which Google is not guilty of.

iTalkNews.com as Blackboard

2007-10-30T17:24:00.000-07:00

For Article: Which J-Schools Are Really Keeping Pace with Online Media?
Posted by Jane Abao 2/6/2007 9:24:50 PM

Learning and teaching journalism does not necessarily mean there has to be a building and a campus that you can see first. My student editors go online as an adjunct to our face-to-face weekly classes. I hold classes online without syllabus, guided by the stigmergy concept where the next thing that happens is directed by our mix of environment, materials, and activity. This at least respects the ideals of Citizen Journalism where any fears of teacher structures might destroy pristine elements from the citizen input. As they say, in Citizen Journalism, as is, where is. However, I still believe Citizen Journalism is not equivalent to ignorance and any journalist should at least know why he is writing, for what and for whom. When these questions arise, then there is a need to know some principles of writing.

As to conversational media, this may be seen from the point of view of the ever necessary dialogue between writer and reader. It is not enough to just write or post and that’s the end of it. Any communication system needs a feedback component in order to be complete.

What mostly runs in my online trainings is the theory of transactional distance where dialogue tries to bridge the gap between me and my students. Face to face, these students would not have the time, the courage, and the readiness to talk, but online, I find that they are more efficient in interacting. Their work posted for critiquing online, the experience is rewarding for both us. But what is encouraging is their chance to hone their reasoning skills by purposely commenting intelligently on news and editorials posted for the day on the website and then I rate how well they place their arguments. They have a quota of 5 comments per day, which means they have to analyze at least 5 news and editorials, plus post their own work which I check for mechanics and content, and which their peers also critique.

Where is our school? We use iTalkNews as our blackboard.

Writing the Dyslexic Way?

2007-10-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

For Article: The Community Decides What "Quality" Means
Posted by Jane Abao 12/15/2006 7:32:05 PM

Hey, I would like that!

It would be fresh breath from the ho-hum traditional. Come to think of it, the work is equivalent to captured monologue in its most pristine form. The feelings are all there.

I wouldn't mind the atrocious spelling. Try to edit the piece and the real flavour will all be gone. Originals have a way of interpreting realities which edited pieces cannot.

Open field for wild interpretations

2007-09-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

For Article: Photoblog Accusations and U.K. Libel Law
Posted by Jane Abao 12/5/2006 6:23:38 AM

"The words published are capable of having a defamatory meaning.”

How do you measure CAPABILITY of words having defamatory meaning?

From whose side will this be measured?
What are the parameters?

It is said that the law of defamation anywhere protects individuals and organizations, granting the injured the right to seek action for the harm done.

It is also recognized that there is no specific legislation addressing the issue of defamation on the web. As each state takes a somewhat different legislative approach to defamation, in establishing such, the first among three requirements in most is that there is defamatory statement (or material) or imputation.

Note that it is stated categorically that the statement or imputation made is defamatory. From here proceeds the proving that indeed there is defamation or there is none.

But looking into CAPABILITY is different. There are no fixtures to speak of. In other words, in here, there is an open field for wild interpretations.

A judge was said to describe a defamatory statement as a statement that is "of a kind likely to lead ordinary decent folk to think less of the person about whom it is made." This applies at examining whether the statement or imputation is defamatory or not. NOT in examining whether the statement is capable of having defamatory meaning or not. There is a world of difference.

If this happens even with what we are supposed to measure injustice with, how then can we aspire for justice if we cannot fix our words?

Measure the quality, too!

2007-09-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

For Article: Blogs: Popularity Doesn't Equal Influence
Posted by Jane Abao 11/23/2006 12:24:55 PM

How do you measure authority just from blog linking? I don’t think solely depending on quantitative approaches is enough because of the nature of information. The content should be given credit which in fact, should have prior acknowledgement over and above frequency of linking.

You are right about people linking to blog postings in order to question, disagree with, refute, or even ridicule them. In fact, all my linkings go under this category. The reason I link them is to show to the reader what I am contending with and most of them time, my arguments come because I disagree with the contents. I have one blog dedicated to this, in fact.

At best, a good approach to measuring authority is a mixed approach both quantitative and qualitative where the qualitative is nested in the more predominating quantitative. Content analysis can serve the greater part of the qualitative where themes of the usual good writing qualities should be considered. And for tips on what to look for here, I recommend looking up the Poynter editors.

Citizen Journalists: What to do with them?

2007-09-06T23:45:00.000-07:00

For Article: Wikipedia Founder Lukewarm on Citizen Journalism?
Posted by Jane Abao 11/17/2006 12:16:18 AM

There are many angles from where citizen journalism can be looked at. There are the writers or reporters who can write but do not have access to traditional news outlets unless they pay, therefore blog their stories or send them to citizen journalism sites or communities. With this kind of people, you do not have problems about content treatment that Jimmy Wales is up against. They know their structure. They know about target readership and about communication effects.

Definitely, we don’t have to pigeonhole citizen journalists as of one mould - as lesser individuals below the quality of traditional reporters

I am with iTalkNews.com, a Citizen Journalism site where I do most of the editing. I find encouragement that some of reporters (mostly the Indians) do have some social consciousness that I do not find in traditional reporters. Even their pictures show that they are carefully taken to project social relevance, and that these pictures have messages to tell, be it indicating a rural development, calling for change, showcasing government neglect, depicting social evils, suggesting a solution, or merely projecting truth in what obtains in society. Some of these action-oriented stances are also found in some stories submitted. What they do is worth encouraging.

The problem is that in this site - as in other sites - there are so-called reporters who take advantage and write about their products [advertisements] dressed as news. And well too often, the site’s personality as citizen journalism vehicle is watered down. There is no way to control this syndrome but to touch their conscience through editorials if they have conscience at all.

I think Jimmy Wales’ over-all impression comes from the droves of unschooled citizen journalists flooding the media outlets nowadays. It does not mean that these people are useless. They can be directed. It only takes some people - with commitment -to help them out.

Ask the Reporters, Please!

2007-09-06T23:41:00.000-07:00

For Article: Gannett "Information Centers" -- Good for Daily Journalism?
Posted by Jane Abao 11/6/2006 7:39:45 AM

I don’t work for Gannett. I am a professional journalist, and a communications specialist by education. I have some doubts about this Gannett approach. From newspaper to information center, that’s their business. But looking at it from the perspective of legitimate communication practice leaves some doubt.

News is news whether we want it or not. Information is information whether we like it or not. The Memo says, “News and information will be delivered to the right media. Our customers will decide which they prefer.” This maybe doable and still expedient business-wise, but at best, these are all mere desiderata. The variety of media per se is not the problem, however, but the nature of some of these media is. When in print or online, the contents are there for reader inspection and evaluation. But when it comes to video and mobile, the reader has very little chance at evaluating objectively the presentation of news. News in these media will have become more as editorials rather than the more objective news. I would congratulate Gannett if it were able to control and preserve the news elements when they get transformed from newspaper approach to video and mobile.

The big question is: how much representation did reporters have in the decision-making of this plan? They are stakeholders who are the very workhorses who make possible the existence of news agencies. In critical plans like this, they need to be represented because they have to be asked their commitment, how much they are willing to risk and give up and bend over and accept. For this approach, let’s face it: advertisers will hog the operations and the way news will be treated. This is the very reason reporters have to be asked their say. Their write-ups will constantly have to be chopped up, re-directed, changed, or embargoed altogether and they can only take so much.

Right prioritizing of skills

2007-09-06T23:37:00.000-07:00

For Article: Traditional Skills Most Important in Online Newsrooms
Posted by Jane Abao 11/2/2006 11:47:21 PM

I should say that the prioritizing of skills or qualities is right and just and that the most important are not related to technology or the Web. I would shudder to learn that people expert in Photoshop but weak in communication skills, grammar and style, and news judgment dog the days of reporting online. In fact, we should let writing be the business of writers and artwork be the business of artists.

Reporting original stories should also be encouraged. This is very important. In some writers’ sites, about 77% of members are only linkers (posting stories already published by other writers) and don’t even have an inkling of what makes for a good title. In the summary portion of the story where they are required to post, they merely mimic the first paragraph of the published story. There is then no brainwork involved, and yet they believe they are reporters already.

Mainstream Media Credit that attractive?

2007-09-06T23:35:00.000-07:00

For Article: Blogger's Investigation Ousts Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade
Posted by Jane Abao 10/18/2006 2:46:48 AM

You have underscored that blogging has not been credited by mainstream media. As for me, I would not depend too much on them. Before, they were the kings. In the context of today, they are not.

The point is that production of information is not only for the powerful nowadays. It is only that they have the machinery, and the usual audience that are mostly advertisers. But today, with technology and open access to the Internet, citizens have learned that they do not have to kowtow anymore to traditional media which lords it over in mainstream media. Blogging is just as powerful. The information highways now have almost equalized access to ideas and their dissemination.

On constructive nudging, this is where we can play our part as bloggers. There are many issues around that are not touched by traditional journalists. In the Philippines, for example, no one is paying attention to the evil effects of block voting done by a religious sect that is courted even by presidential candidates. After elections, the sect collects in so many ways, putting its influence in many quarters in as sensitive as law enforcement and justice. I’ve done my part here. I’ve sent my challenge to investigative journalists. It remains to be seen if someone has the guts to follow up and act on it.

Never delete anything?

2007-09-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

For Article: Better Blogging: 11 Tips
Posted by Jane Abao 10/13/2006 8:52:14 PM

What did he mean, never delete anything? Did he mean, never edit after publishing? With me, I check and re-check my blogs - until I... What did he mean, never delete anything? Did he mean, never edit after publishing? With me, I check and re-check my blogs - until I am satisfied.

You see, my blogs (I have five) are not the usual kind seen with many others. They come with discipline and much sensible content. I do much research and I take care of my arguments. And I do have a focus in my objectives that have something to do with irresponsible media.

The Internet is Ours

2007-09-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

For Article: We Own the Internet: Net Neutrality for the Disengaged
Posted by Jane Abao 10/4/2006 12:03:00 AM

I agree. We own the Internet. Where do you think I could write all those things I've been writing against my government if not for... I agree. We own the Internet. Where do you think I could write all those things I've been writing against my government if not for the Internet?

Amy, for you to understand better what I'm saying, I refer you to my Unsent Letter to Ms. X, somebody I was thinking of helping me expose this group -http://koteet.blogspot.com/

I wrote this letter before I went into blogging. Now, with my blogs, at least groups like Google, Technorati, De.icio.us and others, help me to write to the whole world through the labels provided in my write-ups.

Surviving on donations

2007-09-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

For Article: Reuters Gives CitJ Venture $100K
Posted by Jane Abao 9/21/2006 1:06:09 AM

And for $100K from Reuters, what does it expect from NewAssignment.net? What are the terms? Does Reuters get a voice in NewAssignment.net's decision-making? If NewAssignment.net has a board of directors or its equivalent, is there a Reuter's man in it? Has Reuters suddenly realized it has to be student again to new things it is paying $100K for tuition fee?

With NewAssignment.net, how does it expect to survive out of charity (Is it forever?) without it being subject to the wiles of donors? Forgive me, but I happen to believe there's no such thing as free lunch.

Blogs in Research Too

2007-09-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

For Article: Bloggers as Sources: What's Your Take?
Posted by Jane Abao 8/8/2006 9:26:08 PM

I don't come mainly from a news organization but I do write news. In writing for news, I have not thought of using blogs as my source. However, I had tried using it for research.

There was a time I had to look into [Product A] and its so-called prime, and its relationship to [Product B], another competitor. This calls for user input, I thought. I did not have the luxury to do surveys as my primary obligation was to write from literature.

I was blessed to find blogs of one who seemingly acted as press relations man but not quite. He was writing about the sponsored surveys of [Product A] and giving out statistics, and developments regarding the product. I had included his write-ups in my review since they were not opinion pieces. Moreover, his blogs had allowed a comments portion where users were able to argue their cases.

In his blogs, I was able to collect a good portion of comments from direct users of both products from the United States and United Kingdom debating well on the issues. From there, my research was enlightened about one category and that was location of users. At the same time that some of these commenters accused the blogger of public relations, they wrote very useful information.

In a set-up where the piece is followed by comments from the public, I guess blogs can be useful even in news. What is important, I think, is not in their identity because bloggers use only user names, but what information they were sharing. In the case I am discussing, the main writer whose writings were being commented on, had his full name in the very first piece he wrote for the company. I had to trace it from there and that's where I discovered he was being introduced as an intern from the University of Virginia. This information was very important to me, as I was able to identify him in his subsequent blogs.

To me, my research was enhanced by my inclusion of those information from the blogs.

The Ism or the Journalists?

2007-09-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

For Article: Citizen + Pro Journalists + Money = NewAssignment.net
Posted by Jane Abao 8/7/2006 7:44:26 PM

The Newsletter of August 7, 2006 on the line-up for seminars at the right portion says CitJ + Pro Journalism? By Amy Gahran. However, on... The Newsletter of August 7, 2006 on the line-up for seminars at the right portion says CitJ + Pro Journalism? By Amy Gahran. However, on clicking for contents, I found Amy talking about Jay Rosen's Citizen + Pro Journalists + Money = NewAssignment.net.

I say, there is a world of difference between talking about the ism and talking about the mix of journalists. Citizen Journalism already claims it is a mix of citizen journalists and professional journalists. I had expected a discussion on the ism as promised by the tickler first mentioned.

On the ism, how does one do this despite the fact that the two work on different paths? For example, while one would go for inverted pyramid, the other one comes in whatever form. While one comes, following time-honored approaches, the other one follows an uncharted path. While one comes edited, the other one comes pristine, unedited, fresh from the citizen, etcetera.

How does one ride astride these two horses? Is it possible?

Bloggers with a Fight

2007-09-04T22:55:00.000-07:00

For Article: Cell phones: A new tool in the war-zone blogosphere
Posted by Jane Abao 8/2/2006 10:35:52 PM

We cannot pigeon-hole bloggers into one. There are some blogs that are as knowlegeable and disciplined as the bloggers could put it - because th... We cannot pigeon-hole bloggers into one. There are some blogs that are as knowlegeable and disciplined as the bloggers could put it - because they have been formally trained in journalism and communication. It is only that they do not have the same exposure as others. This explains why we think this kind do not exist.

Some blogs go beyond what people think as just ranting. They even have a fight focused. I, for one, am fighting against the way people freely use communication as an art - as stray bullets leaving people with plenty of scars. There are many decadent ways communication could go. I zero in on that.

Better the Men

2007-09-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

For Article: New Pew Blogger Study
Posted by Jane Abao 7/24/2006 9:54:13 PM

I was wondering why among the topics categorized there was nothing for communications or media. Perhaps if there were a category for "others," this topic would belong there.

Don't people talk much against the stupid boob tube? The news that are not news because they are manufactured whether in print or in cyberspace? Or do people just talk but never write about them? Blogging is just like talking. I wonder where the complaints about wayward media go.

I would appreciate the men better. At least they write deeply about this topic not just in blogs but also in scholarly publications.

Discovering Jay Rosen

2007-09-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

For Article: Tracking News "Ripples" in the Public Conversation
Posted by Jane Abao 7/20/2006 1:52:07 AM

I have just discovered about Jay Rosen and his ideas in Poynter. Thanks to this item. I like his PressThink blog especially.

The introduction goes -
"We need to keep the press from being absorbed into The Media. This means keeping the word press, which is antiquated. But included under its modern umbrella should be all who do the serious work in journalism, regardless of the technology used." I believe in this.

The titles of his entries alone make me stand up and notice. Foremost of these are the following:

The People Formerly Known as the Audience
Laying the Newspaper Gently Down to Die
Bloggers vs. Journalists is Over
The Abyss of Observation Alone.
Blogging is About Making and Changing Minds
No One Owns Journalism

I have bookmarked the pages on Jay Rosen. They will make a fine library for me that I know I can enjoy for many days on end. I see that he has been blogging since 2003.

Encountering the name

2007-09-04T22:33:00.000-07:00

Encountering the name
For Article: The 11 Layers of Citizen Journalism
Posted by Jane Abao 5/17/2006 2:36:28 AM

The first time I found myself in iTalknews.com mixing with would-be journalists who do not even know how to construct headlines, much more just blabber about their feelings regarding some events, I said to myself, “Yuck! Why did I have to come here? People don’t even know how to write!” I began editing their outputs and I felt that by doing so, I was also contributing to their attempts at getting published. Much of these were captions of pictures from developing countries and they had a lot to tell. I also found myself wanting to have something published that would never see print in my own country. I am able to do it in iTalknews.com without fear of reprisal. From here, I began to realize the significance of citizen journalism. Before I came to iTalk.com, however, I didn’t know what to call it until I read Poynter’s piece.

I support Citizen Journalism. I am also with those who think formal journalism has its strait-jacket becoming too tight for modern journalism. May I add this: In a country where there are structures that do not permit the voice of some sectors, Citizen Journalism comes in handy – especially in cyberspace.