Broadcast practitioners in Negros Oriental were urged to refrain from attacking each other on air so as not to create a bad impression of the broadcast industry.
Leo Lastimosa, station manager of DYAB Cebu and former president of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas Cebu Chapter, made the call at the Dumaguete Press Club building in his remarks during a one-day forum to discuss media ethics.
Lastimosa said broadcasters have a duty to protect the industry. “You must protect the broadcast industry because this is where you earn,” he said.
The forum was organized after KBP officials expressed concern over the unrefined language used by some broadcasters, especially political blocktimers, in their respective programs.
Political blocktimers, some coming from faraway places, entered the local scene before last year’s elections and have continued their radio programs and their tirades against their opponents in the last elections.
Some of these broadcasters, it was noted, have either flunked the KBP accreditation exams or have not taken the exam at all.
Lastimosa discussed the KBP laws governing the operation of broadcasting stations and explained each item in detail.
Other items discussed were the rules on making commentaries, writing about children, the duty of broadcasters to correct mistakes, and against making personal attacks.
“You should all be able to reach out to one another and settle your differences among yourselves,” Lastimosa said. If this fails, aggrieved parties may file a complaint before the KBP local chapter, which, if it is unable to decide on a case, may elevate the matter to the national KBP.
