“Media Sa Pilipinas, Mga Bayaran!” 5 (Funny) Insults Vs. PH Media

As a journalist, reading and hearing hurtful comments from the viewers are already part of my everyday life.

Our social media platforms are flooded with them especially if the news doesn’t favor their political beliefs. I hope these are constructive criticisms, but they’re not.

In this blog, I will tell you about the top 5 insults that I read in my 7-year experience in the broadcast industry. Please note that I don’t represent the Philippine media as a whole, this is just based on my own observation.

Let’s begin!

(Funny) Insults I Read A Lot

1. “meDiA sA PiLiPiNaS, mGa bAYarAn!”

I read a lot of this comment since President Rodrigo Duterte sat as the country’s top leader back in 2016. Netizens accuse the media of receiving bribes from critics to put the administration in a bad light. But personally, I haven’t witnessed a fellow journalist receiving money aside from their hard-earned salaries.

Seriously, I have no idea how netizens came up with this insult.

2. “FaKe nEwS KaYo!”

The role of the media is to seek the truth. We break the information into tiny little pieces so the audience can easily understand the content. For example, a Senate hearing that lasted for 12 hours. Viewers, of course, don’t want to watch senators and resource persons bantering for half a day. So, journalists wrap the hearing for you and give you the important details.

Sure, journalists are prone to errors because nothing in this world is perfect. But whenever we commit mistakes, we make sure that we apologize and issue a clarification. Again, personally, I haven’t witnessed a news organization that published or aired fake news.

3. “lAgi Na LaNg mAli nAkiKiTA nInyo!”

Aside from seeking the truth, it is the media’s responsibility to dig deep into the issues. One problem will surely lead to another and journalists couldn’t just let them go. We chase every detail especially if there are millions and even billions of funds involved.

Journalists surely also write what the government has done well. For example, finishing the construction of expressways and bridges, the arrival of purchased vaccines, the signing of new laws beneficial to Filipinos, and many more. Netizens just don’t read enough.

But if they want to watch and read the news that makes the administration so holy, they have the state media network.

4. “bias(ED) kAyO!”

Netizens are quick to judge journalists when they grill politicians during an interview. If a news anchor throws hard questions, they will think that he or she is being biased.

But journalists are just doing their jobs. They are being critical to squeeze every bit of information from interviewees. Critics or political enemies of an interviewee have nothing to do with the interview. Also, the moment when a politician agrees to be interviewed live, that means that he or she is open to all questions.

A piece of advice who will insult us with this, put an “ED” after the word “BIAS” because “BIASED” is the proper term.

5. “mEdiA Sa PiLiPiNas, pAtAy nA! sA bLogGeRz nA kAmI nAniNiWaLa!”

This is my personal favorite. The funniest insult of all.

Some netizens don’t believe the mainstream media anymore, saying that it’s already “dead” (but they still watch our shows and read our articles online).

 According to them, journalists can only see the bad and wrong that’s why they now rely on bloggers who favor the politicians they support.

Journalists completed a 4-year course in college studying media ethics, news writing, and basic law to name a few. We didn’t enter the industry just because we have a laptop, camera, and phone, and a good mic to shoot an “informative” vlog.

The media chase the news, verifies them, and broadcast it to the audiences. Journalists are most needed especially nowadays that we’re dealing with a raging pandemic and typhoons.

They’re Beyond Funny

All these insults boil down to one reason – when they thought that we’re tarnishing the reputation and image of the government in the eyes of the Filipino nation and the whole world.

Did they hurt me?

I don’t want to be a hypocrite. Yes, they did hurt me before when I was still new in the industry.

But as days went by, I learned to shrug them off. I don’t want to waste my time and energy absorbing their negativity.

Before, I used to hit back at bashers through the comments section. But I just ended up deleting what I wrote because I thought the fight wasn’t worth it.

Also, I couldn’t comment or speak against anyone because I am a journalist and my job is, to tell the truth, and the facts, not opinions. As a journalist, I am committed to delivering the news and information, not hate and disinformation.

What (funny) insults do you usually get in your job? Tell me about it in the comment section below!

#journalism #profession #news #producer