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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Tordesillas gets frank, says blogging does not make one a journalist

Tordesillas gets frank, says blogging does not make one a journalist

Published Feb 5, 2025 01:11 am

At A Glance

  • No amount of blogging or vlogging can turn a social media personality into a legitimate journalist, Vera Files co-founder Ellen Tordesillas said.
  • Tordesillas was a resource person during the House tri-committee (tri-comm) hearing Tuesday, Feb. 4.

FB_IMG_1738716269190.jpgEllen Tordesillas (PPAB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No amount of blogging or vlogging can turn a social media personality into a legitimate journalist.

Vera Files co-founder Ellen Tordesillas gave this statement Tuesday, Feb. 4 during House tri-committee (tri-comm) hearing on the worrisome prevalence of fake news and disinformation online.

Tordesillas, a veteran journalist and dedicated news fact-checker, gave her two cents on the difference between bloggers ad true blue reporters during the nine-hour hearing.

"As I said, I'm a journalist. Kasi meron mga journalists na nagba-blog (There are journalists who blog), but blogging does not make you a journalist," Tordesillas told Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who was interpellating her at that time.

Barbers is the prime mover of the tri-comm inquiry. Back in November, the Mindanaoan blasted so-called keyboard warriors and fake news peddlers for hiding behind their anonymity while assailing public officials like himself.

"Yun kasi as a journalist, we adhere to the core values of journalism which are truthfulness, fairness," Tordesillas added.

"Meron po kayong code of ethics, code of conduct (You have a code of ethics, code of conduct)," Barbers confirmed with the Vera Files co-founder, to which the latter said, "Oo (Yes)."

"Dito ba sa social media blogging, naniniwala kayo na kailangan natin lagyan ng code of conduct, at least man lang merong ethical standards dapat ang gumagamit?" Barbers, chairman of the vaunted quad-committee (quad-comm) asked in a follow up.

(Do you believe that a code of conduct or at the very least, ethical standards must be observed by users of social media blogging?)

"Dapat (They should)," Tordesillas answered.

A total of 41 vloggers and social media personalities were invited to attend the tri-comm hearing as resource persons Tuesday. Only three of them surfaced. 

Most of those who refused to participate instead sent excuse letters to the joint panel. They then trooped to the Supreme Court (SC) to challenge the legality of the probe.

 

Related Tags

Ellen Tordesillas Robert Ace Barbers Vlogging Tri-comm Blogging
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