MANILA, Philippines — Online news agency
Rappler published an article titled, "Duterte dominates Google search
results for 'psychopath Philippines'" on May 2, 2017.
President Rodrigo
Duterte dominates the results in Google search when typing "psychopaths in
the Philippines." It is later explained that if there were more topics
that legitimately discussed the matter, the president won't be at the top of
search results.
The psychopath label
was cited from a former statement of Filipino actress Agot Isidro who
referred to the president as a psychopath due to his tirades against the United States and the European Union.
The Society of
Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics states that:
Seek Truth and Report
It
- Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources.
- Support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant
- Provide access to source material when it is relevant and appropriate
- Avoid stereotyping. Journalists should examine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.
Minimize Harm
- Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.
The
problem is rooted on why the article was pitched in the first place.
First, the story was constructed
because a Reddit user recently pointed out this particular occurrence in Google
search. But the publication of this story only puts the editorial judgment of
the news agency at stake, especially the motives of the writer.
It was published
under Rappler's investigative and research section Newsbreak. Under Newsbreak
is a subsection called Inside Track, which the website says is "Rappler's
inside information on people, places, events, and everything else that matters
in public life."
The
necessity for this piece of information, as well as the level of interest the
public might have towards it, must be disputed.
Agot Isidro had issued
the comment last year. The Reddit user's concern is not a sufficient reason to
revive that event nor is the random fact on Google search anything more than
interesting and relevant.
Second, there were
two instances in the article when the background of the sources of information
were not expounded.
The Reddit user has
no legitimate identity, and it is important to know it since he is the reason
why the story was written from the start. Without this salient piece of
information, the motives of both source and news agency will be interpreted as
a low key and senseless offensive against the president. The superficial story
will simply characterize him as a psychopath, without premises and bases.
It lacks substance.
(Reddit thread: I Googled psychopath Philippines)
(Reddit user: Rodelishere)
 |
| (screenshot 1: Reddit user "Rodelishere") |
 |
| (screenshot 2: Reddit user "Rodelishere") |
Another source
explained to Rappler that stories about Agot Isidro calling the president a
psychopath simply piled up.
"We were told
that a possible reason why Google showed those results is because majority of
the websites (both local and foreign media) included the words – psychopath,
Philippines, and Duterte – in the headlines of their stories.
The abundance of
articles about Isidro calling Duterte a psychopath was enough to take over the
first and subsequent pages in Google search.
If only there were
more published stories that actually discuss "psychopaths in the
Philippines", then Duterte would not be on the first page, goes the
explanation."
 |
| (screenshot: an unidentified source from Rappler's article titled "Duterte dominates Google search results for 'psychopath Philippines" |
With all that said,
this Inside Track article is detrimental to the image of Rappler's research and
investigative department.
It is a dimwitted move since it keeps on pushing an idea that lacks substance and is outright offensive. Moreover, it simply demoralizes the president without medical basis and thus would seem like a political attack mediated by the media.
©The Pink Merman
Pacific-Atlantis Mermen Journal
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