Journalistic Legwork that Tumbled a President (Short Analysis and Reflection)

This article gives an overview to how the investigative journalists work as they were called upon their professional egos. Also, for those Filipino citizens who doesn't know about Erap Estrada's case, probably this article will give you an enlightenment.

This case study tells and instruct broadly in both phenomenological and fastidious approach of investigative journalism. Arguably were the things I’ve learned and realizations about my previous shallow articles I’ve crafted. Where did I flaw before? What were the things I should have been considered in doing my article? And lastly were the legal sources I should include for much accurate reports because although I am used to writing routine report, it might be a very good attempt to report in a good sense however I failed to acquire well-grounded information, I can’t figure out where to start because like for example there were rumours circulating that it was intentional and probably a politically connected to, I wasn’t able to craft my plan and supposed guidelines before carrying on to investigation. Journalists are the catalysts in societal and political issues whereas journalistic legwork is integral in aiming for the goals in this field of journalism although this case study of PCIJ gives a lot of guidelines from personal experiences that could contribute to everyone's knowledge.

Reading this case study and guidelines about the works and processes done by investigative journalists of PCIJ, I clearly understand that the work on investigative journalism is really far different from just doing routine reports in terms of complexity, investigative journalism is complex and impressive erudition is a prerequisite― it’s like doubled or tripled effort should be exerted because it would really test your patience, also there are methodical processes to be followed of course it is important to keep organized and be always accurate on doing researches and reports because one mistake might put you in ruthless scrutiny because like what Sheila Coronel said, you might be ended up searching forever when you don’t have a set of procedures and goals to be aimed and scope to be considered thus you’re not fairly after for the result of your story but you have to be anxious of the systematic processes of journalistic investigation ― systematic in a sense that you have to organize data and use flow charts if possible to find sources. In this manner, they establish methods on how they would carry out their investigation on the undeclared assets of then President Estrada, which is really effective that they became an instrument to oust and impeach the corrupt President.

Now aside from building up research strategies technically it should also be anchored on the philosophical level of investigative journalism, which is in my understanding reports should addressed problems that should be changed and corrected. The aim is finding for a broader context which is important to explain what is wrong that should be rectified. Moreover, the base-building wherein in the Philippine context the 1987 Constitution would be one of the strongest bases of the hypothesis and of course republic acts aside from all the legal documents that have been acquired. In addition, tracing the corruption especially in politics involving influential big fishes, it should be inculcated in mind that doing investigative research and looking for records should done very cautious not to spill a word that would alarm the foe or the person who’s under investigation because maybe the next day you wake up everything is concealed hence it would be very difficult now to find records and documents.

As part of the ethical behaviour of a journalist lying is an ill-manner because logically speaking journalists are doing researches for news and news should be factual yet you will lie to your sources that’s quite contradicting on your part that you uphold an ethical principle, which is under the code of ethics, on your field of profession. So to make a good relationship with your human sources in my understanding is that leave them a good impression with guarantee that they will be secured, that their security is in top priority because first of all that is their right and journalists should acknowledge and respect that.

After a sort, I also found out the significance of double checking of conclusion from theories up to the acquired maximum factual and verified information from combined human sources and paper sources to see lapses and likewise to make sure that you do not incorporate your opinions because this is not a commentary or a column, there is a major difference between them, instead deep analysis is genuinely needed with most probably a lawyer’s aide especially to stricture a possible libel and of course the help of the experts would definitely make the report more accurate. To keep impartiality is to relentlessly confront the accused party because no matter what, journalists shall always acknowledge the right of the accused person shall be presumed innocent as it is stated in the article 3, section 12 of the 1987 Constitution and with that he has the right to defend himself.

Furthermore, PCIJ’s teamwork was one of the most important factors that lead them all the way to their goal. It is really touching that through all the hardships they’ve been through they were unyielding and just like the movie All the President’s Men, the editorial works were seen to be vital from checking, discussing and communicating from each other and of course the researchers and all from the workforce are contributing. I have seen the role of everyone is really very important because two or more brains are better than one.

Moreover, since investigative journalism involves venturesome researches and investigations, it is indispensable for investigative journalists to take precautions in every single step, although it is not new that I hear this kind of warning, I’m still trembling knowing that this is not an easy job and that would always put journalists in jeopardy in which some caused lives because of the story they made. So, it is important to make and follow precautionary ground plan. “There’s no story that is worth dying for,” but I’ll prompt that a story is worth to save when the Filipino people really need to be informed and take actions to destroy a misdeed.