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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider The constantly changing landscape of reporting

The constantly changing landscape of reporting

Published Sep 21, 2023 04:02 pm

EDITORS DEKS

 

Going back to the movies

Surprises may arise as the reporting landscape evolves, catching us off guard. After many years in the news industry, seeing changes in the coverage field is refreshing.
I'm talking about a recent announcement by Gannett, an American mass media holding company based in Virginia, which owns USA Today, that they assigned two journalists to cover two of the biggest names in music: Taylor Swift and Beyonce, who are currently on a world tour. Multiple reports suggest that news outlets rarely assign a dedicated reporter to cover a single celebrity.


Both musicians are adored by their legions of fans, having staged sold-out concerts worldwide. Taylor is the more successful of the two because her concert has already earned $1 billion. And she's only in the middle of her “Eras Tour,” which wraps up in November 2024.


The fantastic success of Taylor and Beyonce led to hiring two journalists to cover these stellar personalities. Gannett believes Taylor and Beyonce are worth covering for their massive social impact. These lucky reporters will get to write for USA Today, America's largest newspaper chain, and the Tennessean in Nashville, where Taylor started her career in music.
A report in the Washington Post said that the reporters’ work may also appear in some 200 local Gannett papers. They will earn between $21.63 and $50.87 an hour. So, in the Philippine peso, if the exchange rate at ₱56 per $1, and if you work for four hours for $50.87/hour, you will be paid $203.48 or ₱11,394.88 for a day’s coverage.


As news of the job listings spread among journalism circles, many reporters quipped about penning their resignation letters to apply. Eyes rolled as if Taylor and Beyonce were running for president. Beyond that, journalists are anticipating the first pieces from the newly hired reporters.


It is heartening to witness the advancement and progress in the reporting field. I remember when pageantry was just a tiny part of the entertainment industry. There was no dedicated pageant reporter who covered Filipino beauty queens winning international pageants.


Manila Bulletin has taken a step forward by appointing a correspondent for pageants before the trend caught on. It has also assigned a reporter for Korean entertainment.
Nowadays, pageantry has become a significant category within the entertainment industry. Certain television networks and newspapers have designated a specific reporter to cover pageants.


In 2010, there was a surge of online platforms dedicated to pageantry. Most of these websites are based in the Philippines, and social media influencers have built careers around them. The advantage of pageant sites is their ability to increase a candidate’s fan base. In a way, tourism in the country is also being promoted.


I can't even count how many pageant sites there are in the Philippines. While the number of Filipino winners in pageants abroad has increased, many still create their pageant websites.


Despite the pandemic, some pageants remained active. Can you believe it? Despite the resurgence of Covid-19, people are still finding ways to have fun. Several beauty contests were postponed due to the pandemic, but some managed to continue with the help of zoom sessions.


What else could be the next beat that the media could cover? There are many more. As an animal lover, I want a reporter dedicated to cover cats and dogs. How about hiring a journalist who specializes in covering news related to the LGBTQ+ community? The possibilities are endless.

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