Tuesday, May 26, 2020

WHAT IS DISINFORMATION?

."false information which is intended to mislead, especially propaganda issued by a government organization to a rival power or the media..."
That is the definition of DISINFORMATION.
How do we detect DISINFORMATION?
1. The report is incomplete. When writing news, it is imperative that the source observes the filling up of the following questions:
WHO
WHAT
WHERE
HOW
WHEN
WHY
2. An announcer is dishing out DISINFORMATION when:
it starts a report with the shocking statement that President Duterte is looking for a new health secretary and then ends the report with the statement that the present government official enjoys his support. 
Question: what is the point of reporting then? The announcer did not mention who are asking for the dismissal of the health secretary and why. The ann
3. The announcer is reporting a one-line occurrence which has already ended but makes it appear as if the policy or program is still in force. 
Example: He or she reports that the DSWD has the social amelioration program payout. But the report is very terse. It ends right away with the statement of calling out the government agency for verification. At that time, the SAP has just ended. 
Question: What is the point of mentioning it at all? A radio station has no excuse of conducting disinformation even if it bases its existence on being a carrier of the Gospel. DISINFORMATION is a sin because it is deluding the listeners into thinking that the phenomenon or event being reported is occurring. 
It is bringing the listeners to a state of belief that is no longer tenable. 
4. An announcer is committing disinformation when through a song or songs that for the flock to talk to God is by making Him sound like a laundryperson - washing away the sins of the world. Nowhere in the Bible have I read that at all. The blood of Christ is what washes away the sin. 
Instead in the many psalms that I have read, the appellang is asking God to give him or her the strength to overcome evil in this world, to save him from the oppressors. 
I think pastors on air should examine their words properly and accurately in order to gather more adherents who are looking for moral directions. But if they themselves are in need of directions, then it becomes listening to him or her is a ridiculous exercise in massaging his or her ego in need of radio  listeners who would validate them. 
5. An announcer is committing DISINFORMATION when it uses sexist language downgrading one sex over the other. Sexism is a prevalent on radio especially when women reporters are called "radyoman."
6. DISINFORMATION is committed when the information is written in deep Piipino words assuming that every listener counts in Tagalog. 
In MetroManila, Taglish is the norm. 
Folks, I would appreciate your opinions on this. Please send them through my Facebook account. 

No comments: