When TV Gets Hostaged

WHEN TV GETS HOSTAGED: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ETHICAL PREPAREDNESS OF TV NEWS REPORTERS OF ABS-CBN2, GMA7 AND TV5 IN COVERING LIVE CRISIS SITUATIONS

ABSTRACT

This study measures the ethical preparedness of ABS-CBN2, GMA7 and TV5 reporters in covering live crime and crisis situations. After the bloody aftermath of the Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking crisis, various ethical issues were raised regarding the extensive coverage of the media.

To gauge television reporters’ preparedness in covering live crime and crisis situation, this study analyzes their awareness of local and international codes of ethics, their adherence to these in relation to the Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking crisis and present coverage of crime stories. Only TV5 does not have an established code of ethics while ABS-CBN2 and GMA7 have its own ethics manuals.

Although all of the respondents are aware of existing codes of ethics, they were not well oriented of such and they, themselves, are not very familiar of other provisions (aside from the basics) mentioned in the local and international guidelines.

Essentially the reporters are not that well prepared in covering live crime and situations. Their answers regarding certain situations they could face in covering said situations also varied and did not match up with the provisions of the codes of ethics used by the researchers as measurement standards.

Borromeo, J. & Sarmiento, C. J. (2011). An Assessment of the Ethical Preparedness of TV News Reporters of ABS-CBN2, GMA7 And TV5 in Covering Live Crisis Situations, Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis, University of the Philippines, College of Mass Communication.