Prudence and Madness

Even if there are still many people who’d blankly stare at the mention of the word “blog”, it is undeniable that the blogging phenomenon has pervaded the consciousness of the average people, most especially through traditional media. Newspapers like Manila Bulletin and online information websites like Blog Addicts of You have featured bloggers and their works. And certainly, some journalists have also become bloggers. It seemed that traditional media have accepted and acknowledged the value of blogging in this Information Age.

Or maybe not. Maybe traditional media is in it for a love-and-hate relationship with blogging.

In several news episodes, mostly touching on the Brian Gorrell phenomenon, reporters often cautioned about readily believing information that can be found on blogs, as some people may be utilizing it to destroy another person’s dignity, leaving the viewers with the impression that bloggers should be equated with whiners and blackmailers. Malu Fernandez even insinuated that bloggers were just slackers with nothing better to do but to gossip about other people and perpetrate hate. Korina Sanchez made an episode in her show, “Korina Today”, entitled, “Beware of Blogs”. A guest made a distinction between “legitimate” and “illegitimate” bloggers (which made me wonder where the heck she got that concept regarding a blogger’s legitimacy to blog). The show also touched on the topic regarding Brian Gorrell’s blog.

It’s one thing for one medium to be distrustful of another. But it’s a totally different thing for one medium to be distrustful of another, and YET, turn to that distrusted medium for INFORMATION.

In October 2005, a photoblogger, Anton Sheker, made a post about his visit to Vigan and, of course, being a photoblogger, incorporated several photos he took during his trip.

In March 21, 2007, Anton was surprised to see a couple of his photos in an article by Max Ballesteros in the Travel and Tourism section of Manila Bulletin (see Anton’s post about it with the photos and a photo of the MB article). He was never informed and he never permitted anyone to use the photos in any article. He had called the attention of Manila Bulletin regarding the plagiarism but, unfortunately, was ignored. He sent a bill for the use of his photos but no compensation has been given. Instead, the photoblogger was threatened to be slapped with a criminal case if he continued his claim.

What darn arrogance!

Last June 5, 2008, with the help of his lawyer, Attorney Rod Vera, Anton finally sued the 108-year old major daily for using his photos without his permission. It was said that it may be be a landmark case in the Philippines with regards to Intellectual Property Law and it may be the first time that those EXIF data photos do carry that have been used to properly document each photo will be used as evidence in a court of law.

And I’ve to say this isn’t the first time that someone from traditional media stole material from a blogger. Friends and followers of Eric Dee’s Byahilo would remember how ABS-CBN had used some of his travel photos in the show Boy & Kris without his express permission to do so (Eric has removed his original post already as the problem has been resolved).

And, of course, there could be other bloggers who were victims of plagiarism committed by those in traditional media, who supposedly advocates “fairness” in their reportage. Perhaps I may not know about it all because either I’m not a follower of those blogs or the issues had been resolved quickly. But still the fact remains that some people from traditional media had develop the habit of taking information from bloggers and using it as if it’s their own.

Haven’t these people learned in their college english subjects that it’s proper to quote your sources? That it’s a number one crime in writing any paper, be it technical or journalistic, to be copying materials in its entirety and using it as if it’s your own, even without proper acknowledgement?

Are these the kind of journalists that Professors Teodoro and Hofilena are urging to blog so as to set examples for bloggers?

I still just couldn’t forget this line from Professor Teodoro:

“Many of those who post information online are irresponsible.”

With all due respect, Professor, I believe the same thing could be said about some journalists. Not only about what information they post online, but also on what they write in our newspapers, in what they report on TV and on radio. Traditional media may accuse bloggers of bringing further chaos in our “democratic dialogue”. But, honestly, come to think of it, it is the traditional media of late that brings more chaos, with their penchant for sensationalism, irresponsible reporting, and unnecessary bungling. Some journalists would benefit in a review of their basic journalism subjects.

All of these however, may have been avoided if only everybody would learn to remember how to respect copyrights. It’s a laughable notion that, still, some people think that whatever can be found on the internet is free. Even if the photo isn’t watermarked or labeled with “copyright”, the ownership never changes. At the point of creation, the created is owned by its creator. It is common sense, really. And somehow, I believe everybody really knows that, except that some would choose to ignore such a logical derivation in favor of selfish endeavors and the idea that nobody would DARE try stop them from doing so.

It’s good that Anton Sheker is pursuing his claim. But some bloggers aren’t going to be so fortunate, as not everybody can afford legal counsel. And maybe this is the very thought that strengthens the resolve of these media practitioners who steal information from other people.

These are but some observations that can make one think, “is traditional media losing its ethics?”

Well, I hope not. Seeing it as one of the most respectable professions ever created, it would be an injustice and a disgrace to its pioneers, if Journalism’s stature will become low as that of an ordinary thief because some of its practitioners just got too arrogant or too lazy to properly write or follow-up a story.

I bet almost all sms message aficionados are all clapping and jumping with joy when they’ve read in the newspaper or heard in the radio that the government is making a move to make sending text messages free. It’s even “willing to lose billions in revenues“! And that’s what they’re also telling the telecoms to do.

And I say, “kalokohan!”

Let me tell you this, I do still remember the days when using SMS was free. That was in 1998 (or even earlier) when most people were still using “beepers” or “pagers” and very few are using cellphones to make calls. There was text messaging, but only few were using it probably because there were few cellphone units then (remember the bulky, pencil-case like or boxy models of Motorola?) or probably because it wasn’t the hip thing to do (yet). And for the few who have discovered its various utility, it was almost an orgasmic activity. Imagine being able to use the service to chitchat with a friend without having to spend a peso to make a call in the phonebooth and in the comfort of one’s bedroom; being able to cheat during the exams because professors thought that you’re using a calculator; to tell someone your intimate feelings without having to face them or talk to an operator; to be able to plan and organize, without being in a place or on the phone at the same time. Imagine the possibilities.

Well, well, then the market became flooded with more advanced cellphones with better LCD screens, text messaging capabilities, and even games. At that time, almost everybody at the tambayan has the latest cellphone model. And were texting, because it was free. And it has become the “in” thing. It also marked the birth of mushy quotes, fancy text graphics, and the dreadful “can u b my txtm8?” messages (and its variations) because people just have nothing more to do.

It was fun, I know, because I got in that craze too.

But certainly, people who’ve witnessed the beginning of this new way of communication also remember that it was also in the late 90’s that the Dark Age of “message sending failed” have begun. Failing to send a message have almost become the norm it became a common excuse for not acting upon a received message. “Wala ako natanggap na message. Baka sending failed ka.” (translation: I didn’t receive the message. Maybe it failed to be sent.) All because there was a sudden ballooning of the number of users of SMS, perhaps more than what the telecoms must have anticipated.

And now with the proposal that telecommunications company should provide this messaging service for free (because according to our intelligent PMS head, Cerge Remonde, telecoms shouldn’t be profiting from it), I fear that we’re going to go back to the Dark Ages.

The government is expecting these telecommunications company not to earn from services that they’re providing. If they’re going to push through with this, people may get their free sms, but cellphone subscription rates will blow sky-high, putting more burden on people, instead of relief.

Are proposals like this a manifestation of how oafish our government officials have become? Or is it just because 2010 is looming near? I say remember caution. Always.

But it seems to the sheep of this country, they’ll never take notice just because they’ve got something that is “free”…a service that they’ll be enjoying even if they don’t pay for it. But then, who says there is such thing as “right to free texts”?

Ah, the oafs!

I’m afraid I have allowed May 15 to come without being fully prepared.  I was hoping to post something about the human violations in the Philippines that has continued to proliferate, like the case of missing and killed journalists and other people who have campaigned against the government, the unfortunate children being trafficked by greedy men and women, sold to slavery and prostitution, for money,  the untold tales of women being sexually abused, even in their own homes, and are forced to keep quiet in fear of being killed or their loved ones being harmed, and of OFWs being continually abused by their employers and the government not doing enough about it.

But because I was busy and lazy, I forgot to do my homework.

Hopefully, by reposting the badge as a reminder to those who may be interested in joining or those who may be able to do more to help the cause, I may be able to makeup for what I should have done.

Let us be reminded that we do have the power to fight for our basic human rights.  All we need to do is to use whatever means within our reach to let everyone who’d care to know that basic human rights are universal.  Blogging may be deemed too simple, too tame, to even fight back the big monsters.  But, at least, we do and we try.

Please do visit Bloggers Unite, blogging for hope.