Read the Business Section

I usually read the newspaper but skip the business section. I don’t understand most of what’s written there, and I find them too boring to read. I believe this is also the case for those people who are not investors, stockholders, businessmen, and anyone who is uninterested or not knowledgeable about business. But the business section is not entirely devoted to the business-minded people.

Business reporting is essential to us because it gives us information about the ups and downs, the trends, and the latest happenings in the market. We all may not understand the meanings of the figures but we get the idea. And to be honest, there are business reports that are not completely about figures.

For example, an article about the wealthiest people in the Philippines would be a great and interesting read. Many of us would want to know who are cashing in most from our pockets. And through this, we become aware of how we, despite not being businessmen, affect businesses. We must remember that as consumers, we are the ones who put those names in the list of wealthy people.

This kind of reporting makes the readers socially aware by informing them not only about business but also about other things connected to it. Like the issue of the National Anti-Poverty Commission whose function is being questioned. Another is by presenting the current state of the businesses not only the country but all over the world.

Sadly though, there aren’t many business reporters anymore. Many choose to not take this job because one should be first familiarized with business before being able to effectively write about it. Nevertheless, business reporting overall is doing fine. As was written by George Harmon in his article Grading Business Journalism, “[it] has never been better…but we need to ensure that it keeps on keeping on.”

I know that I’m one of those many who wouldn’t take business reporting as their career. But this doesn’t mean I don’t believe in its importance. I am not that 1 out of the 500 undergraduate students who shows interest in business as pointed out by Harmon. But I can be that one who will read the business section. After all, business reports are important.

Sad Monday

I couldn’t care less when I saw tweets about the hostage-taking at around noon. 3 p.m. came and words about the hostage-taker’s “deadlock” became more evident on the Internet. Still, I didn’t care much about it. I thought it was just another hostage-taking drama, especially when news of hostages being released surfaced. When I tuned in to a prime time news program that night, I learned that it hadn’t been resolved yet and that tension grew as the brother of the hostage-taker was being arrested. Gun shots were fired. I cared.

I intently watched every minute of ABS-CBN’s live coverage of the crisis. I saw how they showed the relatives of Rolando Mendoza, the former police turned hostage-taker, being dragged to arrest his brother. I saw close-up shots of the bus driver trying to break free his shackled hand. I saw how the bus driver miraculously escaped from the bus and his shocking statement: patay na lahat (ng hostages). I saw the police slowly walking toward the bus. I saw the police breaking the glasses. I saw shots being fired at and by the police. I saw Mendoza’s dead body hanging on the bus door. I saw hostages—alive, unconscious, and dead—being taken out of the bus.

But as I was seeing what seem to be like an action movie, I thought why hadn’t the government declared a news blackout? It is true that media has a right or freedom from prior restraint or censorship as stated in the constitution. But at times of war or crisis like what the world witnessed on Monday, the government has the right to order a news blackout.

Maria Ressa, ABS-CBN VP for News and Current Affairs, says that one network cannot initiate a news blackout. The government should order media networks. But there was no order so they continued their live coverage of the hostage-taking crisis without disobeying the rules set by the police.

However, ABS-CBN like other media networks, should have considered that Mendoza could access the news through the radio and television inside the bus. Such access alerts him of the plans by the police and the happenings around the area. Mendoza saw the arrest of his brother which agitated him. He also saw the positions and actions of the police who were trying to capture or kill him. Because of this, the media networks should have shown a delayed coverage to give Mendoza the element of surprise.

The police on the other hand also showed mistakes in handling the situation. First, the police showed lacking in training and experience in crises like this. If they were more careful and brave, they could have saved all the hostages. They also failed in controlling the crowd which led to a by-stander getting shot.

The government should have acted quickly. President Noynoy Aquino should have declared a news blackout or a delay in the coverage instead of reasoning that media will get back at him if he did such. Which is more important, saving the lives of the hostages or saving himself from the media? I am not calling for his impeachment. However, I am calling for his quick and intelligent decisions in crises like this. This marked his first failure in handling a crisis. Also, he should just accept the criticisms of the people on his Facebook account instead of disabling them from doing so. After all, he is all about social media.

To the Filipinos who watched the hostage-taking drama in Quirino Grandstand, I hope you will all realize that you shouldn’t be there. You are not only putting your lives in danger but also threaten the control and action of the police.

To the Chinese-Hong Kong nationals, I am deeply sorry for the tragic result of the hostage-taking. But please bear in mind not every Filipino would want such event to end the way it did. Please also consider that not every Filipino will harm you.

To the Filipinos who insensitively had their photos taken by the bus, I hope you receive wisdom to be able to think what is right from wrong, good from bad. Please respect. And to those who are ashamed for being a Filipino, shame on you.

The government, media, and police all did mistakes in the recent hostage-taking crisis. I hope this will teach them how to improve our system as a whole. I also hope this will teach everyone to respect life, and be responsible of every action.

Keep Blogging

We need to constantly read articles about science because this is a way of learning new things that we are not aware of. We can get new insights and ideas on science breakthroughs that will help us have new perspectives or opinions. Simply put, writing about science is important.

But how these science articles are written is more important. Average readers or laypersons should be able to easily understand what the articles are saying. The choice of words, structure, and style play key roles in capturing and educating readers. This is why journalists and science bloggers alike should continue writing about science. But questioning which of the two should take over science writing is pointless as of now.

Like journalists, science bloggers have good command of language. They are able to deliver through their articles what other scientists or experts in their fields can’t. They can also reach many people through their blogs which already earned them followers. But a blogger in ScienceBlogs admits that blogging about science isn’t a lucrative job.

This can also be one of the reasons why there is a decline in the number of science journalists. Only a few newspapers devote a section for science which forces science journalists to stop writing about it or go to other media like magazines and the internet.

If we stop bloggers to write about science during a time where only a few science journalists practice it, who else will write about it? How will the public be updated with the breakthroughs in science?

There is nothing wrong about science blogging as long as they are responsible and ethical with whatever information they publish. Since science journalism is heading south, science bloggers might as well take the lead in promoting science writing. But journalists should revive the seemingly dying science journalism as soon as possible to guide science bloggers. 

Know and Write Science

The article by Dave Munger in SEED Magazine tells us three things: know your audience, clearly present your message, and check if your message is understood by your audience. Science articles have fewer readerships now, but are surviving with the use of blogs. I read blogs of my interests. Most of the time, I don’t encounter blogs featuring science-related topics. And if ever I come across one, I hit the close button or look for another blog. This is because some science articles are too scientific that laypeople like me don’t quickly grasp.

Science journalism is dying. The attempt to revive it is through, again, blogging. But the question of “who’s blogging?” is a matter of concern for me. If I read blog articles about science, I need to make sure that the things written there are true. That’s why I think scienceblogs.com and other sites monitoring their bloggers are doing well. Readers build a trust on the bloggers.

But despite these attempts, surveys show that scientists think the public is less informed about science. They think the media isn’t doing a good job. The same survey though shows that the public is well-informed about science. I think the point here is whether the means of conveying the messages by scientists is effective or not, whether the public is receptive of such means.

One way to attract more readers is by having shorter articles because quantity is not equal to quality. As Roy Peter Clark lists in his article, we should practice these tips to write a good concise story: plan before writing, practice writing short, build the story, write as if you’re telling a story, use hourglass structure, and know your focus.

And if science articles/stories are written clearly, short, and simple, I may actually read them regardless of how scientific they are.

What Should Science Journalists Do?

My friend and I were at the bookstore, walking through aisles of school supplies. We stopped in front of a table full of discounted books. He grabbed one then asked if I read a lot.

Before I answered, I thought of the books and magazines I’ve recently read. I could remember the last book I finished reading three years ago – The Good Earth. And the last magazine I read was Reader’s Digest.

I don’t always read. Sometimes I can’t find time to read books besides those required by professors, which I already find hard to finish.

So I told my friend the truth.

“Journalism course mo ‘di ba?” he asked.

I expected that reaction. I’m a journalism student but I seldom read.

Reading is important especially if you’re a writer because it nourishes you with facts and ideas. It also helps you view things from different perspectives.

Journalists always need to read newspapers to keep them updated with the happenings in the world. Science journalists must read different science publications because science and technologies evolve fast.

But being in the know is not the only reason why science journalists should read. And they shouldn’t only be reading scientific magazines or publications.

There are scientific journalists or bloggers who write well about scientific topics. Coturnix, for example, who used to write in Scienceblog.com. Based on his last article there, his style of writing is easy for any reader to understand. Meanwhile, Dr. Stanton Peele’s style in his article is interesting but hard to understand if you’re not familiar with the terms he used.

William Zinsser is right about simplifying words, getting straight to the point, and observing a style to make scientific reading less difficult. Not all readers are like Michael Silverblatt after all.

Science journalists should always know more than their readers. And they should write well so their readers will learn more.

Sex. Interested?

I don’t frown upon people who cringe whenever they hear the word sex or any topic related to it, nor do I question their beliefs. I just find it amusing especially for UP students to have such reaction.

Yesterday during lunch, I sat with my friends as we gobbled up greasy foods served in the canteen. Somehow, our topic led to sex. But it wasn’t just about sexual intercourse per se. There were the questions of when our first time to watch porn was, where sex shops are in the metro, and what kinds of toys there are for sexual pleasure.

It was an informative talk.

Then I noticed two of my friends became uncomfortable. I could tell the guy felt uneasy but was still willing to learn new things. But the girl just totally disengaged herself from the conversation.

Like I said, I have nothing against people like them.

Just a thought: if some young Filipino adults already feel uncomfortable talking about sex, will sex education make the situation better or worse?

SEX. SEX. SEX. SEX.

Maybe we should just talk about it more often.

Live Ball

I’m lucky enough to have enlisted in a PR class this semester during which the UAAP basketball takes place. We are required to work there as media relations officers or GROs as our professor would joke, and make the jobs of the press easier.

I’m not a big fan of basketball but of course there’s the sense of pride whenever we cheer for our university’s team. I haven’t also watched a live UAAP ball game so imagine my excitement when we were told about this.

I went to Araneta Coliseum last Sunday with my group mates for the practicum. We didn’t even have to stand in long lines because we were given media passes which give us access to certain parts of the coliseum, even dugouts.

Well basically, all we had to do was to get the halftime and final statistics per game, and bring the best player and the coach of the winning team to the press room. In between those, we are free. We were even allowed to sit among the VIPs and media during the game.

UP Fighting Maroons didn’t play that day though. The teams that battled it out for their first win were Ateneo Blue Eagles who lost to FEU Tamaraws, and Adamson Soaring Falcons who defeated NU Bulldogs.

Watching them play live and up-close was better than watching them on TV. I can feel every move of the player. I can feel the crowd.

Our group is assigned this coming Sunday again. Hopefully that experience will top last week’s.

Article Set #3

Raul Kamantigue Suarez outlined in his article Realities in RP Science the problems faced by some Filipino scientists. He enumerated them and provided explanations one paragraph each. But this structure made the article too bulky and straining for the eyes. Suarez is also guilty of committing syntax errors and run-off sentences. His introduction should be broken down into paragraphs too.

The article Human genetic variation -- Science's 'Breakthrough of the Year' outlined notable research advances similar to Suarez's article. But unlike the latter, the paragraphs of the former are evenly spaced, making it easier to read. However, the scientific terms and jargons used leaves average readers confused.

From Museum Basement, a 'New' Dinosaur by Yeganeh June Torbati is an easy read because of its smooth flow and use of common words. The topic and the way the article is written also make readers interested.

Another interesting article is Sindya N. Bhando's For Male Finches, Range Comes With Muscle. But it lacks depth and elaboration. It also ended abruptly, making readers wanting for more. This would have been the best article for this week's set had it not been for its shortcomings. 

(Un)refreshed

I bathe every morning especially during school days. Of course I always want to feel fresh whenever I face my friends, classmates, and professors. But I never seem to achieve it.

I live not too far from the university. Still, I need to take three rides to get there.

First, I take a tricycle to go to the jeepney terminal near the wet and dry market. The ride takes about 10 minutes. And during these minutes, I would have already been exposed to the black smoke other vehicles, mostly tricycles and jeepneys, exhaust. Add to that the awful smell of the wet market.

From there, I ride a jeepney bound for the terminal next to Quezon City Hall. These jeepneys are known for their reckless driving. In fact, holding on to the railings is a must if you don’t want to fall off your seat. And since terminals along Elliptical Road are one of the busiest, expect many people to cramp inside jeepneys with their sweaty arms brushing against yours.

The last ride I take is a jeepney that will take me inside the university. Although there are many jeepneys going that direction, there are also many commuters, mostly students, fighting for seats. That includes running after jeepneys, waiting under the scorching sun, being exposed to pollution, and getting stressed and worried for chances of being late in their classes.

By the time I get to my class, I don’t feel fresh anymore. It’s as if I never took a shower because I would start feeling sticky, my clothes would smell of smoke, and my hair would be all messed up.

That’s why I would rather ride taxis. But I don’t have the means. So I will just need to endure these three rides even if it means not feeling fresh anymore just 30 minutes after leaving my house.

Article Set #2

How I Used Twitter To Live-blog The Opera by Dylan Tweney and Riding The Rails of Malaysia, In Singapore by Neel Chowdhury are examples of good articles. The first article is fresh. No one has ever covered an opera on Tweeter as was claimed by Tweney. The inclusion of his actual tweets makes the article more interesting. The second article on the other hand shows great imagery, giving a good description of the train station and the ride itself. Chowdhurry makes his readers experience riding that train and even shows its importance of linking Singapore to Malaysia and Thailand.

David Pogue’s Big Phone, Big Screen, Big Pleasure has an interesting introduction but loses it toward the end. Obviously, it is written specifically for techy people or those looking for new gadgets in the market.

The two articles Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved by Hunter S. Thompson and The String Theory by David Foster Wallace are too long and are badly written. They both have poor paragraph construction. The first article has bulks of paragraphs making it hard to read. The second one fails to focus on the topic as Wallace keeps on introducing new ideas to the readers.

Oprah Talks To Ellen DeGeneres

Oprah has a good commanding voice. That is evident in her article, more like dialogue or talk, with Ellen DeGeneres.

The article is structured to show the exchange of conversations between Oprah and Ellen. As a result, reading and knowing who says what is easier to picture in our minds rather than with the use of descriptive words usual articles have.

This also makes readers feel they are in the same room with Oprah and Ellen, as if they were just sitting in front of them watching them enjoy their talk. And being able to do such is not many writers succeed in.

Oprah is very articulate which has also helped in bringing out Ellen’s wit and personality. She managed to create a relaxing feel for her article, the type many people look for.

Overall, this is a great read.

The Networker

Long articles are often difficult to read especially if the topic disinterests you. But Ken Auletta’s article The Networker proves otherwise.

Auletta presented Afghanistan’s media mogul Saad Mohseni’s personal and professional lives like he is telling a story. This is the beauty of this article. Although you are not completely eager to know about Mosheni, you become so as new parts of the story unfold. Auletta makes you interested. His storytelling has smooth transitions which guide the readers until the end.

However, readers who are unfamiliar with Central Asian names will have trouble remembering them. This is out of the author’s hands though. Other than that, the words used are common and are easy in the eyes.

The article is long but engaging.

The Web Shatters Focus, Rewires Brains

Nicholas Carr’s article titled The Web Shatters Focus, Rewires Brains is easy to read and understand. He used common words in explaining how the Net affects our brains.

The topic sounds scientific, but his explanations are not. He used metaphors instead of jargons and compared the brain process of information transfer to a bathtub being filled with water using a thimble. This gives the readers a clear picture of the process. 

Carr enumerated different ways the use of Net makes people easily distracted and less critical by citing situations which are supported by researches and studies of experts. This helps convince readers of the bad effects associated with the use of it.

He also presented the advantages and benefits of using the Net. This is good because it shows balance of the two perspectives, strengthening his argument.

The cause-and-effect pattern of the article engages the readers step by step and therefore grabs their attention fully.

The Biggest Little Man In The World

A secret to a good article is the smooth flow of ideas which takes the readers from their feet to the shoes of the writer. Andrew Corselli did just that with his article about Manny Pacquiao, The Biggest Little Man in the World.

Corselli used graphic descriptions of how Pacquiao lived during his childhood and adolescence, how he conquered different boxing weight divisions, and what he is like as a person outside the ring. These helped in creating Pacquaio’s image especially to those who are unfamiliar with him.

Despite the lack of response from Pacquiao, Corselli managed to craft a well-written article using anecdotes and insights friends and members of Team Pacquiao shared.

The article however heavily used complex words and sentences which make it difficult for an average reader to understand.

Toward the end, Corselli quoted the very few sentences Pacquiao said. This creates a strong ending for a long article because he kept the focus on his subject.

Had I written a profile about Pacquiao under such circumstances, I would have done the same but use words easy to understand. 

Bakla 'yan

Bakla 'yan.

These two words, even just the first, never fail to grab our feeble attention. There are always different ways of perceiving those two words, and they always boil down to how positive or negative your views are. But often times, it's the bad things associated with being gay we see or think of. 

I remember last night when my family and I were watching a local primetime news program, my grandma blatantly said those two words to a fashion guru designing fine Barong Tagalog for the most powerful man in the country. She said it in the most regretful way possible. My aunt stood up for the designer upon hearing, saying how skillful the designer is and elegant his creations are. Maybe because she already have had her share of my reaction toward such explicit disgust for gays.

A few months back, my aunt told me why my nephew was not enrolled in any dance workshops - his grandpa, my uncle, feared of him being gay. I know. What's dancing got to do with it? And the more irritating thing, what's wrong with being gay?

Some people have been living blindly. Or I've just been living with my eyes and mind open - open enough to understand and see them for who they are, for who I am. 

I'm currently taking up a gender course, and I'm happy to learn more about gender and sexuality issues not only in the local setting but also in different cultures. Through this, I hope to understand better society's complexities toward us, and to broaden my perception of it. To those who haven't had any gender course yet, enroll in one. My friend who underwent a gender workshop this week doesn't regret it. According to him, there are many things many of us need to learn. 

I agree, we need to learn. And I hope that everyone could learn it. I know we will always hear, some of us will even say, those two words and that's a sad reality. But I hope the next time you say it, do it proudly with an ascending tone not otherwise.

Try it. Bakla 'yan.

Time Management

"I haven't slept nor eaten yet" has been her usual line whenever you see her walking to her next class or organizing matters for the college's student council.

Gail Orduna is a junior journalism student. She is also the Journalism Representative in the College of Mass Communication, and an active member of four organizations.

That explains then why she deprives herself of the basic necessities of life: food and rest. But according to her, she does not neglect herself but only practices time management.

True enough, with the piles of papers required in journalism classes combined with those of the electives and GEs, the busy schedule of a student council member, and the time-consuming activities and tasks in her four organizations, she would have very little time left for herself in her hands. And I literally mean little.

Sign in on your Yahoo Messenger at 9 p.m. and you'll see the familiar yellow face next to her name. Come back seven hours later and you'll still see her online finishing up on whatever requirements due that day. Call her a crammer as you may. But what is there to do if only during those hours she could do her academic requirements? Like she said, it is just time management. She just forgets to sleep and sometimes eat.

No one can blame her. She focuses on her every responsibility to make sure they are of prime quality. For one, she sees journalism to be "human flourishing" as she puts it, an "i-learn-from-you-you-learn-from-me" concept. This is why she tries to excel in the field so she could contribute and learn from it. She also makes sure her role as the Journalism Representative and a member of organizations to be as effective as that of a good leader.

But don't think she doesn't get to have fun. Just hope she has slept and eaten already when you see her.