Celebrification of weather journalists

The internet was quick to catch several journalists who made mistakes in their recent coverage of the flood in Metro Manila and parts of Luzon. Like a meme or a humorous photo, it rapidly spread (often without context) faulting the hardworking journalist for their human errors. Nobody knows the extent to which one has to go through when being assigned to cover a disaster. There is the fear of uncertainty, the urge to ensure safety while looking at the many residents who became victims of poor urban planning. Mind you, it is difficult to be in tip-top shape as a reporter while fighting fatigue, hunger, and the longing to be with one's family.

It is probably because of how social media is slowly repackaging journalists into influencers, thus leaving the audience puzzled as to where to focus on. The essence of the work is often overlooked which are clear-cut reports for the public to know. On the other hand, we can look at it as the reportage may have overwhelmed the audience as well. The visuals are the same: flooded streets, rescue operations, evacuation centers, and local chief executives who are dumbfounded by the strong rains. The latter makes me wonder what they have been doing all this time, when many civil society organizations called for better mitigation last year.

The audience’s critical eye is appreciated, but it must go beyond looks, outfits, and outtakes. The journalist is not a celebrity, despite popularity, influence, and reach. The journalist is simply a messenger, one who is tasked with the difficult job of making complex things easy to understand. At best, the audience must shift their focus to the poor implementation of climate change mitigation projects and policies in our country. When I attended the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change last year, I met several Filipino civil society organizations that clamored for a just transition as we step into the new normal of bizarre weather patterns. I guess nobody listened. Not even the House Committee on Climate Change, which was representing the Philippine government.

We are at a crucial stage in terms of adaptation, as local governments are starting a fresh term and most national projects are just slowly taking shape. The reportage now must go beyond the effects and also look at the causes, while pressuring those in authority to finally take a stand when it comes to climate impacts. We have been warned, but we never listened. The problem should not just repeat year after year. We are done with resilience, we want accountability.

Both the journalist and the audience can demand this in a collaborative manner, with neither one outshining the other. After all, reporting is really about public service, not doing a service for one's image. While Manila-centric newsrooms are busy with their weather coverages, we take time to commend their job well done. I hope the news treatment is the same should it also happen in the regions. Weather reporting is not an easy feat, and never will be, but the passion to serve continues --rain or shine.