Watching (and making) the news from a different perspective

Several months ago, I decided to stop watching the TV news. Not only was the news discouraging (or so they seem to me), I also would like to protect my 3 year old son from the undesirable scenes which oftentimes features unedited shots of bloodshed, nudity and many other scandals. I also decided to stop listening to the radio news. Neither did I read the daily which our office is subscribing. So every six o'clock in the evening, instead of the families faces of Julius Babao, Ted Failon or Karen Davila of ABS-CBN's TV Patrol World, my son would feast on the education programs of Barney, Sesame Street or Disney's Magic English.

Recently, however, The Alternative Law Groups, Inc., a coalition of eighteen (18) legal resource non-government organizations to which our office belongs, started a campaign against Charter-Change which the present Philippine Administrations is enthusiastically promoting. Since our office is the cluster head in the region, the campaign would requires us to be in the forefront of the campaign which often . This development made me to re-think my decision of several months ago. What would the people think of our statement or stand when we appear on TV or radio shows or when we are quoted by newspapers? Most certainly, I would not want them to feel the discouragement that I felt about the media. I also would not like the group or its players appear as people players. So how are we going to do this campaign?

As I was preparing for the launching of the campaign and our guesting in a popular morning TV show, I noticed the copies of The Christian Science Monitor that a Christian Science Practitioner sent me. On the front page of each issue is printed the following statement: "To injure no man, but to bless all mankind." This was how Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the newspaper, envisioned it to be. It has been 98 years since the first issue of the Monitor was published. Since then, it has received received many awards and recognition because of its objective and honest presentation of the news without much tabloid-like sensationalism. And for 98 years, Christian Scientists from all over the world used the paper to jump start their prayer.

These insights helped me a lot. If the ALG has a good intention in opposing the changes in the constitution, why should I be afraid in being part of this campaign? I know that ALG's position paper came out after considering all issues well. Each statement, therefore, has been carefully crafted. Why should I be afraid to let the public know about it? For as long as our presentations are objective and without much hullabaloos, I know the public will never be offended.

Yesterday morning, Erick Auza (an officemate) and I appeared in Maayong Buntag Kapamilya, a morning show of ABS-CBN's regional channel in Cebu. We presented ALG's stand and engaged in a lively discussion with host Angela Calina. Three of the program's viewers called up and gave their positive comments. This morning, the press conference and launching of the campaign was also successful.

Indeed, why fear when we know our intention is not to injure anyone but to bless everyone? And as regards the news in TV or other media, let's watch them with pastoral eyes, ready to pray about disturbing situations and always aligning our thoughts that mind "which was also in Christ in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5) So the media is not at all that bad. Inter Mirifica, a Second Vatican Council document, beautifully describes the role of the media this way: "...these media, if properly utilized, can be of great service to mankind, since they greatly contribute to men's entertainment and instruction as well as to the spread and support of the Kingdom of God."