Distractions

We were watching the news last night and were expecting updates on Sabah as well as the suicide case of a UP Manila student. We were also expecting some news on Pope Francis as well as information on the goings-on for Holy Week (next week). Instead, we were treated with an overextended and unnecessary interview with the sister of the highest public official of the land. She was relating her version of what happened between her and her ex, whom media reported making sexual advances at her and in the process also offending and abusing (mentally and psychologically) their child.

While such news are usually relegated to local news or the tabloids if involving normal people (read: general public), this case was different because it involved a popular personality who also happens to be the sister of a high ranking public official. The result was tremendous but unnecessary attention from the media starting with her home outfit and eventually including its rival stations. Is this of national concern? Is this what's supposed to be prioritized over other more important news on events and situations happening around us? In practically a couple of days, what should have been a private issue had practically obliterated news on more important affairs like Sabah, socialized tuition and reforms in the Catholic Church. Even the status quo ante order on the RH Act was buried under what's supposed to be classified as showbiz fodder. I think there's something terribly wrong with our media if they continue to stoop to this level and take the bait (hook, line and sinker) for such distractions to more pressing issues.

I was actually rooting for the lawyer of the personality's ex, who is also a popular athlete. The lawyer found a way to express her opinion (similar to mine) that the affair is a private one and something that needs to be private instead of being featured on front page or getting too much treatment on TV. I was agreeing with her as she sort of embarrassed the seasoned journalist interviewing her by stating that there are more important issues including Sabah and the UP Manila suicide that needed more attention than the case she is handling. Perhaps media should heed the lawyer's call and pay less attention to distractions that tend to trivialize more pressing concerns that need to be addressed by a country needing to learn to prioritize among the information it is fed by media.

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