Untruth, malice, and fallacy

Bencyrus Ellorin

OPINION pieces are powerful in helping the public digest complex social events. Through the analyses of opinion writers, issues are dissected into byte-size information for easier understanding.

Understanding of social issues forms part of the basis of public conscientization on issues. A public that has informed opinion is empowered. An empowered public diminishes the impact of the coercive influence of powers-that-be. Thus, fomenting an informed society strengthens democracy.

Journalists are saddled with huge responsibilities. Sadly though, many think being a journalist makes one endowed with privileges lesser mortals do not have. Of course, there are perks in being a journalist. One is the opportunity to be in the front row of events, of bearing witness to the unfolding of history. But that front row seat is clothed with huge responsibilities. Not anyone can be a journalist. One has to acquire certain skills and disciplines. On top of these disciplines is accuracy. Meaning, a journalist has to be, first, a faithful story teller of events.

Opinion writers are also story tellers, but they analyze events and come up with stand on issues. Opinion though does not come from a vacuum. It has to be based on facts. Often, opinion writers are senior journalists, many are not full-time journalists but writers who are deemed experts in their respective fields.

The beauty of opinion writing is the freedom to interpret facts or a set of facts surrounding an event. What cannot be taken away though is the presumption that the facts are accurate and the opinion-writer is bound to be faithful to these facts. Accuracy in journalism is sacrosanct.

Apologies for belaboring these points. But I think this has to be sorted out especially with the election fever escalating. The media is a favorite battleground of warring politicians. While there can only be one set of facts that can accurately represent an event or a persona, different opinion can be derived from these facts. But then again, one has no freedom revising the facts to suit his or her biases.

A few months ago, I had a word with fellow columnist Churchill Aguilar who intimated in one of his columns that many journalists have been bought by politicians. And that he himself had been “offered.” Many journalists, including me, were slighted by that generalization. First, it is the duty of an opinion writer to facilitate the emergence of an informed public opinion. Second, if one has to make an accusation, he or she is duty-bound to substantiate it. I respect the opinion but I had to tell him that he was duty-bound to disclose who offered him, and prove that he or she in the neighborhood of the community media have been bought.

Days ago, I read the column of Cris Diaz about the supposed resignation of acting city treasurer Glenn Banez. Of course, we know that Banez and Mayor Oscar Moreno are fighting a dismissal order from the Ombudsman for grave misconduct in the Ajinomoto taxation case.

The analysis on the supposed resignation seemed logical. However brilliant his analysis was can be deemed invalid as it started from an untruth. In newsroom parlance, reporting something that turns out to be untrue is “kuryente” or bum steer. That is why reporters and editors counter-check, verify and vet facts.

I just arrived from an out-of-town trip when I read the column on a Wednesday, and I had to ask from official sources if it is true that Banez resigned and, in effect, abandoned Moreno. City information officer Maricel Casino said Banez is at city hall busy making tax assessment as it is renewal season of business permits, and doing other tasks a treasurer should do. I checked if there were news stories about Banez’s supposed resignation in Google and found none.

I leave it to the columnist to correct his factual mistake which would effect the repudiation of his opinion on Banez’s supposed resignation. I think he should. He has been in the trade for decades, and he knows full well that bum steer happens. Otherwise, he could be setting a bad precedence–peddling untruth. And when untruth is tolerated, justified, and further disseminated, that becomes malicious. I am confident though that the columnist won’t take this personally. This is not the first time I disagreed with him, and put on paper our disagreement. But despite that, I think, we remain media colleagues.

Malicious propaganda is common in campaigns. I have been active in social media “communities.” There you see entertaining, sharp commentaries and outright lies. Most of these lies and bellow-the-belt commentaries are from trolls or social media netizens who use fake names. Unlike the newspapers, radio, television and online news portals, accountability in social media is problematic.

The byline in news articles is not to make the reporter famous. First and foremost, the byline is an accountability mechanism. It bounds the reporter to be accountable to his or her reportage. Such that when he or she commits a mistake he or she is equally accountable for that mistake. In social media, anyone can use an alias in Facebook to spread disinformation and what-have-they.

Political groups have a division of trolls to spread malicious propaganda–1) they freely accuse the opponent of being kawatan, kurakot or whatever without offering solid proof; 2) they attack persons rather than stick to informed debate; and 3) they threaten those who oppose their views.

I was advised many times to use a troll account in engaging with them. I refused because 1) it is burdensome to maintain multiple social media accounts; 2) trolls are people, they have hearts, that when you strike them at the core of their persona, they react; and 3) they need to be engaged to expose their character and the brand of politics they are promoting.

In fact, the lies they spread could reflect on the character of their candidate/s; the personal attacks, ad hominems, they launch could reflect lack of intellectual depth or simple wickedness; eventually, their maliciousness could affirm what dirty politics look like or is all about.

I have been accused of working for the present administration. In fact, my column had been muted for awhile because of such accusation which may have ran in conflict with my position in government. But after some soul searching, I cannot allow myself to be muted. I have to make a choice. I am now back as a private person.

Now, let me just be clear, and I will only say this only once: my opinion is not for sale.

I can only commiserate with the performing lieutenants of Mayor Moreno who have been smeared by their political opponents. But methinks these people should be doing something right, their opponents are now finding them stumbling blocks. It also reflects the quality of his leadership and management style of the mayor–that he values teamwork and delegation of work. So unlike the bygone regime that has only one “alas.”

E-mail: bency.ellorin@gmail.com