Online advocate: No need for ethics code

CEBU, Philippines – A Cebu-based online influencer said that unlike traditional media, the social media platform does not need specific guidelines similar to a Code of Ethics.

“In a sense, no. It has to be self-policing. It has to be nga ikaw na mismo, kung unsay tan-aw nimo right and wrong. Basta di lang ka makadaut sa laing tawo. Mao ra na akoa. Kay to police it gud mawala ang free-flowing of conversation that has never happened before kay diba kahibaw man ta. Ako, I was from traditional media. Di man dayon ka ka-engage sa imong audience. Here, instantly ma-engaged ka,” said Jonji Gonzales, founder of Mugstoria.

In a forum entitled “Show and Tell: Out There It’s Micro-Content, Memes, and Millenials” yesterday, Gonzales stressed that netizens should be given the liberty to discern among themselves as part of their freedom to express their thoughts and ideas.

Still, he acknowledged the prevalence of “improper” handling of information such as sharing photos and videos of sensitive situations like crime scenes.

“Aware mi ana nga there are several things are going on like gruesome images are shown for killings. Kami mismo mu-advocate nga ayaw na ninyo buhata, i-take down na ninyo. Pero, kasabot sad mi nga daghan kaayo mugamit sa social media nga walay experience sa journalism. Wala gyud silay nahibaw-an bisan gamay sa journalism,” he said.

With this, he challenged the professional media to aid the netizens in improving their content.

“Ang ako unta nga hope is to work with journalists to help, go online, use social media and educate the netizens kay mas maayo man mo mutudlo kaysa namo. Kami, makakita mi sa among media friends nga muingon ayaw na ninyo gamita ang mga gruesome photos or ayaw mo pag-plagiarize, credit your source, amo nang buhaton. Pero di man na namo kaya nga kami ra. Mas ganahan unta mi nga naa ang journalism nga mu-embrace sa social media and silay mu-educate sa netizens sa right way of doing it. But naa gihapon ng allow the free flow of ideas,” Gonzales said.

“Wa naman ng gatekeeping. They can say what they want to say even if taboo na siya sa traditional media. Let’s have a conversation. Let’s agree unsay standards ana. Unsa man gyuy maayo ana. Until later on mu-evolve na man gyud na ba. Mas tarong na. We’re all learning from all these things and it will take a little time,” he continued.

Students from University of the Philippines Cebu, among other participants, took part in the interactive forum at the Marcelo Fernan Press Center.

UP Cebu mass communication program coordinator Prof. Mayette Tabada aired her concern over portrayal of gender-biased content, which can influence millenials or the modern online consumers from the youth sector.

With Gonzales during yesterday’s forum were fellow Mugstoria staff members, meme creator Megan Romero also known as Besh, Mugstoria chief operating officer Kevin Maglinte, multimedia artist Danjick Lim, Mugstoria content creator Christian Danlag, and social media curator Weigibbor Labos.

The activity, spearheaded by lead convenor Cebu Daily News, was part of the weeklong celebration of Cebu Press Freedom 2015. —/JMO (FREEMAN)