Creating a balance between objectivity and empathy, as well as the imperative to report a factual story with the personal need to survive. Reporting a story about an epidemic within a broader context that covers other social issues. Always keeping in mind the sobering realization that reporters too are front-liners in an ongoing invisible, yet no less lethal, war.
These were the issues that media practitioners themselves brought out about the critical role they played in covering the COVID-19 pandemic in the two-day Responsible Journalism: Part of the Solution webinar series held last June. Journalists, communication specialists, and health experts convened to further discuss and collaborate more closely as they work around the clock to inform the citizens about the virus and its repercussions.
At first bat was award-winning journalist and COVID-19 survivor Howie Severino who said that “the media give out a complete picture that includes the negatives and positives. We have to convey the fearsomeness of this disease because it’s not something you take lightly. But we also have a chance to turn our trauma into something transformative. We can do this through stories of survival and happiness.”
A lot of the discussions centered around fact-checking and fighting misinformation and fake news, which can easily confuse the public. Renowned journalist Ellen Tordesillas emphasized the importance of rigorously checking the accuracy of the data as well as debunking rumors. “The internet has become a breeding ground for fake news even before the pandemic,” Tordesillas warned. “At its worst, misinformation can endanger one’s health,” she added, referring to reports of citizens using dubious cures.
Floreen Simon, Training Director at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), reiterated that journalists must consider all the societal and scientific elements that compose a story. She said, “Know the science, know the politics, do the math.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Tan, a Professor of Anthropology and Philosophy in UP Diliman and Clinical Professor in UP Manila, agreed and encouraged journalists to look at the much broader picture. He said, “There are pre-existing economic and social problems that the media must address, such as unemployment, drop in health services, and housing shortages. These issues were magnified during the lockdown, and journalists must connect the dots to paint a more accurate picture.”
Dr. Tan also called for more purposeful storytelling beyond basic reportage. “Journalists are healers and givers of hope, too,” he remarked. As most people now speak in math jargon and equations of ‘flattening the curve,’ journalists can humanize these reports by looking beyond these statistics to tell the narratives of the people who fought meaningful battles against COVID.
From a public health professional standpoint, Dr. Beverly Ho of the Department of Health (DOH) affirms the significance of empowering messaging in the long term. “COVID or no COVID, what we push for is for people to maximize their health so they can reach their full potential—economically, socially, and otherwise,” explained the Health Promotion and Communication Services Director. “We need people’s resilience as we move forward. The media has the power to change mindsets and fuel their motivation.”
When data dissemination falls short, DOH Executive Assistant to the Secretary Atty. Faith Laperal urges for more open collaboration between sectors, from private and public, to healthcare and beyond. “The objective of our COVID response has always been to move beyond mere government efforts and reach out to the entire society,” she clarified. “We have always been open to feedback.”
Celine Samson of the non-profit news organization VERA Files, on the other hand, also pointed out that readers themselves have the responsibility to discern what they do read. She said, “Keep an open mind, but always make sure to check and counter check.”
The pandemic is not an easy time for anyone. Transparency, close cooperation between organizations, and public trust are the pillars that will lead us towards the solution, as the Philippines continues the fight against COVID-19 through its media practitioners and health experts.
The event was a joint initiative between Breakthrough ACTION at Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs and Internews Philippines, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).