Thoughts on Thoughts

 Do you know how much media can influence a person? In my Communication Theory class last semester, we discussed about Gerbner’s cultivation theory, it says that media has become the main source of information, ideas or stories in today’s generation. In television, those people who watch television more often are likely to be more prone in whatever effect the television may give to the audience. People are more exposed to more violence and most likely to see the world in different way like seeing it more harmfully because of television’s stories. Not using the television or media right, can make a harmful environment and full of people living in fear.

With the cultivation theory in the news, it seems that televisions are images that somehow exaggerates or fantasizes the reality or what does really exists. It shows that the media generally presents an image of the world that does not reflect reality. There are unbalanced number of crime, wealth, violence and more. As a result, people end up perceiving the real world in a distorted manner and viewing actuality through the perspective of televisions. So I think, it is best for people to be responsible enough especially in watching television. Televisions or Medias are not always the answer to boredom. People can do physical activities that even help people to have a great and healthy body. With this, people can be more aware of what they can really see in reality not just in televisions. The people who are must be more careful of are the children. Children who watch violent cartoons become violent as well. Example of a cartoon show that somehow shows violence is the Tom and Gerry show. Tom and Gerry show is a very popular show especially to the children but if you take a look what Tom and Gerry are doing, you can see that they keep on fighting each other. Doing cruel things and mean things. There are not so many lessons to get from to. And these cartoons are somehow the role models for some children for they see them almost every day thinking that what the cartoon characters do are most likely fun and correct which is the total opposite in reality. Repeated exposure to violence strengthens the beliefs that the world is a place which is full of cruel people and a dangerous place to live in. That’s why people or audiences must be responsible enough in everything that you see in television and in any forms of media. Parents should guard their children in what they watch and see to it that they are far from seeing too much violence. Violence is something that is not good, something that we must never do or commit, something that should be aware of and should avoid of.  

We have different ways in celebrating Christmas Eve. For my family, it has been a tradition for us to celebrate our Christmas with our relatives (Ocampo Family side) every December 24^th to December 25^th. We would usually go to my grandparents’ house and have a mini family reunion. My relatives from Makati would usually go around lunch time but for this year, they went to my grandparents’ house around 6pm already. 

 

Morning that day, I went with my dad in Tagaytay. We let others rent our condo unit so that we would also gain profit aside from using that unit for a vacation place only. For that day we had customers that booked their stay from December 24 to December 27. They said that they’ll arrive before 1pm so 12nn we were already there but unfortunately they told us that they were stuck in traffic and we’ve waited until 5pm’til they’ve arrived. 

We were just in time to go to my grandparents’ house. We fetch my mom and sister at our house and went to my grandparents’ house right after. My grandparents’ house is actually few streets away from our house. We’re in the same subdivision with them. We ate dinner together and I had time to catch up with my cousins who are bit older than me. We attended Misa del Gallo then we exchanged gifts after heading back to my grandparent’s house. I got handkerchiefs (good thing because I usually keep on loosing handkerchief hahaha), then I got a pink purse, a planner and a hair towel. We also used facetime app to greet and talk to our relatives in US. 

After that we went home already. We exchanged gifts we gave mom a SM gift card, we gave dad a pair of shoes, we gave my younger sister a phone case and they gave me an umbrella (because I don’t have an umbrella anymore hahaha). Of course before the day ended, we had our family selfie.

If you guys need a place to stay in Tagaytay for your vacation, you could visit https://www.olx.ph/101503512 for more details. Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Just like what I’ve said in my other blog post, I’ll share some of the most important things that the famous ABS-CBN news reporter Mario Dumaual said during our interview with him. He gave the most important advices/lessons every journalist and aspiring journalists must hear at the Resorts World Manila last July 7, 2015. He also shared his experiences and some of his secrets in writing and delivering news effectively to the public.

He said that a person’s drive is really significant in the world of journalism. “Dapat masipag ka, maghanap ka ng storya na sarili mo nang i-pupursue.  According to him, there were times that journalists have to rely on their assignments but still, it is the journalists who are in the field. Journalists will depend on themselves and be responsible. Journalists have to establish the story and the connections. You have to establish certain links with your contacts and with those who will publish you. If a person does something that he or she doesn’t want to, he or she may end up doing it incorrectly or end up failing. It is important for a person to be willing in every obstacle that he or she faces and in everything that he or she is asked to do. A person must not be selective especially when it comes to work. In the world of journalists, a person must have the drive in order for him or her to produce a good story and deliver it well so that he or she may get the attention of the viewers.     

Mr. Dumaual also mentioned that getting the reader’s attention is the key for a journalist’s story to prosper. He or she must have a good angle in covering up the story. And in order for a journalist to produce a good angle, he or she must motivate their subject to speak. It should be strong. “It is really up to the reporter to motivate the subject or to come up with the truth about an issue or about itself. It’s important in a reporter the motivation.” Mr. Mario Dumaual said. But in motivating a their subject/s, he or she may end up taking his or her subject’s side and so acoording to Mr Dumaual it is also very important to take note that one cannot be bias. Fairness is essential towards everyone and being factual comes along with it. A journalist must deliver what’s true because eventually the real truth will come up. As the famous line says “lalabas din ang katotohanan dahil walang sikretong hindi nabubunyag”, it is also applicable to journalists. One must explore deeper so that the truth may come out because it will makes everything else easier.

Getting the facts straight, getting the story right then coming out with the truth, being factual and being fair. And the most important advice that Mr. Mario Dumaual said was “Sana walang… masamang tinapay sa atin.” He means that people especially the journalists should not discriminate. People should be equal. Sometimes, people have the attitude of treating other people less important than anybody else. People often think that those in lower positions are less knowledgeable than the others who are in greater positions. Those positions don’t have to do in gaining the facts that people need. Any facts or story may come from anyone. Even the people who are at the lowest positions can have the biggest facts that a journalist can have. People are not just aware of it. We have to deal with everyone or anyone because according to Mr. Mario Duamaual, “Each person is a potential contact, a potential asset in the pursuit of any story.”