The Face of Fake News behind Freedom of the Press

For the past couple of decades, we often get to know important events or happenings through publication and broadcast on day to day bases. These traditional medium became sources or tools for disseminating information which give way the public to access knowledge, facts of current events, social affairs, realities and etc. It became our eyes and ears of cognizance to be fully aware on what is happening in our growing world or in the society we belong with. Thus, we tend to believe on the overindulged information spoon-fed through by the likes of countrywide large newspapers and mainstreams media. 

But the emergence of internet pioneering and crafting the social media network creates new value perspective and challenging the traditional channels on obtaining, acquiring and propagating information. In fact, traditional press industry interlinked their channels to the web to continuously reach their platforms among the public and the masses whom shifting and patronizing instantly the social media network like Facebook, Twitter, Blog on web pages and Vlog posts on YouTube and among others. And with these revolutionize innovative mediums, dissemination of information circulated in social media rapidly slink and spread through out the network in seconds. But the contents’ reliability and truthfulness stemmed questions and clouded with doubts. Hence, “fake news” took advantage on the vulnerability of the web and overwhelmingly infiltrate the cyberspace that permeate the consciousness of many. 

Information is crucial in decision making because millions of social media users called “netizens” are roughly dependent upon the information itself being fed. But interestingly, fakes news is prowling behind all these unlimited info access. And, the unverified facts tend to trend and viral and eventually accepted as truth related to the certain issue affecting decision making. What is more intriguing, mainstream press and online prints dissemination seemed deceptive on their news information being published. Not all but few  top headlines and front stories were arguably bent, slanted, distorted and took out the whole context which irate netizens. 

In the Philippines, netizens’ views partly considered public opinion which somehow significantly shapes the perspective of the people on deciding whether the information is authentic or bogus. With gazillion bytes of available links and references, netizens get to notice loads of clear-cuts and twisted information especially from big mainstreams' broadcast and online pages and blogs that allegedly controlled and sponsored by moguls and oligarchs. And, the birth of misinformation and disinformation traced and rooted to all of these sweltering online conflicts - causing disparity of people to curse and slander while bringing too much sensation in distorted truths and facts. Thus, it obviously reflects imbalance, poses bias and transalate inaccuracy. 

To this time, 'SocMed' or Social Media networking sites through Facebook posts, Blogging or Vlogging have become the avenue for netizens to express sentiments, disappointments or dismay over the spread of fake news and disinformation. And a lot of online users as if blaming traditional media on twisting the facts that far from truth. On the other way around, the same as well from the mainstream media accusing the army of bloggers, Vloggers as paid trolls for spreading malicious, unethical and obscure posting of information. Particularly pertaining to the anonymous users, believed to be responsible for the exaggerated contagion of emotions motivating the netizens to hate and bash over random people and personalities in the web. This furiously sparks anger online generating abusive word warring between independent bloggers/vloggers and the press. Bottom line, the general public has now the apprehension, torn, confused, skeptic and critical on whether to believe on the news fed by the mainstream press media.

The constitution is clear protecting the freedom of speech, of expression, and of press of which is a fundamental right. However, with the political roller-coaster scenarios whom President Duterte currently at helm displaying his unorthodox virtuoso in-command, the said freedom is being challenge (really?). And, most old school media industry and some hoary self-important journos shrieking in crescendo about democracy's being attack, held in hostage and nearing to its death. The closure of one big social news network due to questionable legalities on its operation likely went berserk and hysterical in town barking out loud about curtailing of their freedom. Sadly, too few cohorts consoled. 

Well, the case is already filed and let the court decide on the merits.


There’s nothing wrong of sympathizing your fellow colleagues fighting for with the same principles. But it’s hard to fathom why some group of traditional media outlets sensationalize and breathe likely in drugged exaggerations over the closure, again, without eyeing the root cause of the matter. This also brings up the issue on the alleged army of paid trolls in social media and the alleged paid independent social media 'influencers'. It anger and upset old school press and journalists as their broadcast reports and written articles were being debunked leading toward discrediting their stories and put into shame.

When the government and the no less than Digong Duterte himself is being attack and malign, battalions of online keyboard soldiers are alert, ready and prepared for blitzkrieg counterattack. They’re called "trolls" but they are actually penchant cadres of defenders and supporters of the president safeguarding his position as leader of the nation over the spread of fake news, disinformation, and perverted news trying to malign and discredit his governance. It is even harder to comprehend (and irritating too) as these cry-baby group so-called “institutionalize” journalists claimed to be the only authority over the identification of "what fake news are or not" - that all the legitimate proof of facts of the news are on their sleeves; that all truthful information are stuck in their own maven repository; that all social media users should stop and refrain themselves on bashing and condemning against those critical to the president; that all (paid) online warrior defenders of Durterte must stop on spreading “fake news”, and deceitful and misleading information; that everybody should believe on what multi-site newsprint and mainstream media published, because they claimed to be more likely the epitome of truthfulness in circulating information all over. 

It is clear how beat up and butt-hurt these old school press journalists are over by those “mere” netizens and independent online stringers and hardcore critical minds whose only platform and avenue is in the free web-space. It’s also clear on their words, moods and actions that they want to silence these “mere” independent bloggers and vloggers and other social media users. How ironic to say this but they essentially want to curtail the freedom of these “mere” creatures on expressing their intellectual thoughts and high brow opinions which strongly protected by the constitution. Hence, they are obviously axing the little sovereignty to express among online users whom they essentially treated not as competitors but destroyers to their own claimed legitimate truth. 

With the unstoppable fiery exchange of criticisms that often prompt slandering and vilifying, both from mainstream to social media, must have self-controlled attitude over the freedom of speech though the "brutal truth” still matters the most. Clashing of arguments rationally is good but must refrain of hitting the guy below the belt (as if don't call the person ugly when her mother told her that she's beautiful- LOL! may ganun?!).  Interestingly as to this time, the public recourse or shift to find a more convincing information through alternative source in online blogs, vlogs or social media  posts alike. One main reason, mainstream media is gradually losing their momentum as credible institution of driving good information. Although, social media as a medium or a channel is very vulnerable to many forms of unreliable info and rumors, credible and reliable information are still accessible of which references are convincingly truthful and doubly fact-checked. Moreover, the readership attitude of this millennium is wisely different in delving to the issue intelligently, and smart enough in choosing and scrutinizing the kind of news they read if it's worthy enough to believe and rely on.

Grab photo credit courtesy of google images

Reality hurts. Traditional newsprint and mainstream media are losing (big time) revenues on their business versus the availability of social media which is almost free accessible for everyone from Class A to Class D or E members of the society. More importantly, old school press continuously losing millions of avid readers that opt financiers to invest, sponsor and sustain their work and business. Adding more is their unwanted legitimate superiority of spreading and disseminating information, then only to find out that some of them masterfully orchestrated the art of clear cutting and flawlessly splicing or spinning the true stories down into twisted lies.  And, that includes the erroneous coverage and reportage on the person’s words and actions.  Indeed, these circumstances disappointment their ardent followers.

In Duterte’s case on his current leadership, many press practitioners seem appear playing God by intentionally spinning his pronouncements and misleading the guy’s words and actions as well as his policies on governance.

Now, speculation sluggishly arises. If publishing fake news and disseminating a misleading information has been a practiced or a cultivated trend or a rising culture from not so distant pasts scored by those selfish oligarchs and egotistic moguls or by just those too self-centered God’s given creatures on journalism. Question remained (in me): What really happened during Marcos time? Well, let history judge and decide…

Fake news will always lurk as dark shadow behind the curtains of the limelight stage for having free to speak. It’s almost an alter ego. And with the current social affairs and the concurrent political setups, the rapid dispersion of fake news is the cruelest and nastiest weapon to use against with anyone in destroying character, credibility and reputation. Abominable but no one is exempted to this unkind posture. It is also one way of deceiving the public by making falsehood appear to be too good to be true. Eventually, the continuous battle cry for truth behind fake news or on deciphering and unmasking the real face of fake news falls down between V/bloggers versus fellow V/bloggers versus mainstream press and journalists. Of who’s for pro or anti, let numbers alone speak for itself. But the battle of intellectual minds depend on how strongly you owned a string of arguments and proofs you'll hurl against your adversaries. After all, we are in a country of democracy. But as carefree as we are, let us remain cautious, vigilant, alert and observant against the “face of fake news behind the freedom of the press.”

--> Just my two cents worth.