Irony In Quiapo

Quiapo is a simple trade area in the heart of Manila, Philippines. Various kinds of goods can be found easily. The location is so easy to reach that it becomes magnet for the travelers. Quiapo is representation of both civilization and irony.

Noble tradition of Quiapo is represented by the presence of Basilika Ng Nazareno. The church is the depiction of old and noble catholic civilization of the country.

There has been a cultural transfer in Quiapo between the years 1767 to 1790. A statue of Jesus shouldering the cross, called the “Black Nazarene” was brought to the church. The statue is the heart of devoted catholic in the area.

Ironic. Just ten meters away from the church, there are fortune tellers. Noble catholic civilization is directly confronted with irrational practices. That’s Quiapo; an area that has been running for at least 400 years.

Now, the small city of Manila was preoccupied with the various demands of urban communities, with irony here and there

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Objectivity in Journalism

I believe objectivity is the heart of journalism. A journalist is forbidden to include his or her opinion in the stories. A story should be the voice of people and really a depiction of reality. But unfortunately, journalism is hard to be that objective.

Journalists may treat a topic differently. A journalist may choose this angle and sources because he or she thinks it is the most interesting. But another journalist may choose that angle and sources, because of the same reason.



Each journalist has his or her own consideration of choosing angles and sources. Some are objective. They report stories just the way they are. Some other ignore their own intentions and wholeheartedly serve public goodness. While the rest put everything aside but his or her intentions. These last kinds of journalists tend to be subjective.

Subjective point of views will result in subjective products. In this case, subjective stories are derived from journalists’ subjective considerations. Thus, it is understandable that journalism may be subjective or not objective.

Homosexuality can be a good example to elaborate idea of objectivity in journalism. As known, certain religions only recognize men and women. It seems that there is no place for gay. The condition is quite confusing for a journalist with, for example, moderate or permissive point of view. The journalist will criticize religious teaching that restricts homosexuality and undermine the idea of equality. He or she may choose angle and sources that satisfy his or her intentions.

Abortion will also be a good example. Most of religions in Indonesia forbid the practice of abortion. The teachings of the religions state that abortion violates the rights to live. But, some people, including journalists, oppose the idea. They use scientific and medical consideration to strengthen the argumentation.

Indonesian media discuss abortion using religious frame more than homosexuality. But, both leave debates. In my opinion, the main duty of journalists is reporting facts. Nevertheless, they should not ignore moral and ethical values for public good. It means that journalists’ idealism and critical thinking will be the means of censorship. Please note that censorship does not mean hiding truth that people deserve. Censorship means selecting the best information for the sake of truth and public good. Let us say most of religions forbid homosexuality. A free-minded journalist may criticized the teaching. They may quote religious leader who refer to certain religious teaching that elaborates that each person is born in a good condition. It drives an opinion that each person, including gay, is unique and valuable. By using this way of thinking, a journalist announces an idea that is good for everyone. This is the role of journalism in educating public using a peaceful way.

A journalist may agree or disagree with abortion, homosexuality, or other topics. He or she may put his or her personal point of view into the story through the choice of angles and sources. But the journalist should be sure that the idea is good for public and well supported by arguments. That is why I said earlier that it is hard to be objective in writing stories.

(submitted to Reporting on Religion class-Ateneo de Manila University)

My favourite place

Monas, Indonesia's National Monument, is my favourite place. It is a beautiful place where history and modernity meet.

Information Imperialist

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines imperialist as a person or country that supports or believes in imperialism. While imperialism is the policy of extending a country’s power and influence in the world through political relations or military force. Here we see that the “media emperor” Rupert Murdoch’s actions resemble the idea of imperialism. The only difference is that Murdoch’s main intention is extending his business and profit.

One of the key words in the idea of imperialism is political relations. And Murdoch, in order to extend its business, tends to make use of the political relations both locally and globally. Locally speaking, Murdoch used his media institutions to satisfy certain political figures in order to gain profit. At local level, this Australian guy also explicitly states and donates his wealth for political activities.

Murdoch is certainly known as global media master. McChesney said Murdoch has satellite TV services that run from Asia to Europe to Latin America and owns Star TV dominates in Asia with thirty channels in seven languages. At his global achievement, Murdoch also deals with political relations. His willingness to be an American, to marry a Chinese girl, and to cope with Chinese political system, is the representation of the idea of imperialism within Murdoch, in order to gain his objectives.

McChesney states that imperialism no longer exist because of massive rejections, especially from third world countries and those who consider westerners as the agent of imperialism. Murdoch’s information-imperialism also faces this kind of obstacle. At local level, for example, Murdoch was often opposed by his employees who refused Murdoch’s personal and political intervention in news coverage. While in global area, Murdoch is sometime rejected by some political forces, as he finally got into conflict with Chinese authority, despite his success in winning his business back.

Story of Rupert Murdoch is the representation of one of several dimensions of global cultural flow, namely mediascape. As Appadurai stated, mediascapes refer to the distribution of the electronic capabilities to produce and disseminate information (newspapers, magazines, television stations, film production studios, etc.), which are now available to a growing number of private and public interests throughout the world. Murdoch is undoubtedly a transnational entrepreneur since his TV stations, newspapers, reporters, and film production studios, reaches every corner of the world. By using all of these advantages, Murdoch may be the one who create global culture.

Globalization of culture involves the use of instruments of homogenization, such as advertising techniques, language hegemonies, and clothing styles. Here we may say that Murdoch successfully apply the idea of mediascape in promoting the global culture. His media empire will be the most effective means in delivering certain ideas or way of life. At certain level, the network will be useful in conveying advertisements or any kind of propaganda.

Murdoch’s media networks obviously gain its success in “changing” certain countries’ way of thinking and life. Indonesians are now familiar with American way of life after Murdoch extended his Star TV coverage by buying one of Indonesian biggest TV stations. American advertisements and propaganda can easily be found in living rooms or even in the most private place, such as bedrooms. And I believe this also happens in other countries. Thus we may agree with Appadurai’s opinion saying that mediascape plays an important role in creating global culture because it draws the images of the world. ***