Media, gov’t tackle news coverage issues

“We are not enemies of the mainstream media. We are not also friends, but we can be partners.”

This was how Carlo Dugaduga, head of the Cebu City Public Information Office, described the relationship between the media and government information offices (GIO).

Over 50 information officers and media practitioners met yesterday to discuss issues relating to how the media covers the government and how government pitches their stories to the press.

Cebu Daily News chief of reporters Doris Bongcac said the media would greatly appreciate if information officers would properly schedule their news conferences and give them ample time to prepare for it as reporters run from one agency or news event to another especially on busy days.

Balance

Bongcac said that acces to news sources isalso important in balancing a story. “We try to get both sides as a basic rule. But we are limited because of inaccessibility of the other side. But the next day, we also exert effort to get the other side,” Bongcac said.

Sun.Star Cebu’s Linette Ramos-Cantalejo said they try hard to get all sides on deadline and disclose if they can’t with the message: “Sun Star tried to contact this person for comment, but calls were not returned.”

Fred Languido of The Freeman said information officers should be more accommodating to the press. “PIOs should take calls from the media. Don’t be afraid because we are not your enemies,” he said.

Cherry Ann Lim, managing editor of Sun.Star Cebu , on the other hand, said that PIOs should clearly tell reporters if the information they are giving out is “off-the-record.” “You should say it in the beginning if it’s off the record so we can budget our time and look for other sources,” she said.

Yesterday’s dialogue at the Marcelo Fernan Cebu Press Center was held as part of the week-long celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week which runs from September 15 to 21. /Jose Santino S. Bunachita, Correspondent