Jack of all trades, master of none.

In my reminiscence fifteen years ago, I was a child dreaming to become “this” or “that.” I once dreamt to become an astronaut who travels in space, or a scientist who formulates and discovers things through observation and curiosity. There was a time that I dreamt to become an architect, a detective, a doctor, a biologist, a scientist or an archeologist. There was also a time that I wanted to pursue all of them like what the Philippine national hero Jose Rizal did 130 years ago.

But, it did not comes to my mind, even once, as if there was no such career akin to be a Journalist.

When I am in the phase of growing up, I have had discovered myself that I am a person who always on the go and constantly renovate and some time redesign. I like to be introduced to new things and see new perspectives. I am not comfortable if I remain in one place for long. I enjoy travel and adventure, and have a very observant eye.

My elementary and high school years taught me to discover myself, to know more, and to develop more, to make me realize what career I shall pursue when I will be in college. Of course, it’s impossible to be like “Jose Rizal” who had 22 occupations in a single life.

Then suddenly, my grade five teacher entered me in the field of writing, specifically in feature writing. I did not know that I have also a talent being a writer whom this teacher of mine visualized ten years ago. Still in my high school years, I was engaged in writing, but in writing news for the school publication. My adviser even bonded me in press conference contests I did not dreamt before. And now that I am in my college years, I am now pursuing the course I never dreamt; it is to be a journalist.

I am not the kind of person who has the guts to speak in front of many people. Speaking is not my forte. This was the reason why I did not want it. But I realized that journalism does not mean just to speak or to inform facts to the public.

I learned while pursuing this for almost three years that it is deeper and more complex than any courses I thought before. I also discovered that to be a journalist is to be engaged in almost all fields of work. How? One cannot write something without knowing something. Curiosity of a scientist enters here. A wild and innovative mind of a novelist is needed to grasp more the true happenings of the surroundings. An on the go and must be always ready person, investigating issues like in politics and solving crimes as detective does. Creativity, a substantial trait of architects sketching designs of lives in people’s minds to help them see the real world within. An archeologist who digs history, reveal the truth for the present and serves as artifacts for the future. A perseverant attitude of a biologist concerning environmental and health issues and a doctor helping to treat certain kind of diseases in politics and human rights like corruption, racial discrimination and ethnicity. How to make all of these? Reveal the truth with the use of the said traits by using paper and pen for giving the right information creatively to the public.

To be a journalist is not just to be a writer. One must be more curious, more observant and creative, have a wild mind, a saver and dedicated person for the many. Most importantly, one must have patience and perseverance to sweat blood searching for every significant data from relevant sources and in order for the people to absorb the news well.

One thing I adore being a journalist is that it must have the guts to digest the discouragements as encouragements even if how hard it is. Honestly, it is not just easy to be a journalist. But if a person is into it and likes it, then he will eventually enjoys and engages with it. As if he is not working for money but for the principle of revealing the truth.

Speaking is not my forte. Maybe writing does, but for sure, observing and listening are what I like most. Journalists are jack of all trades, master of none. Journalist, who masters nothing, reveals the truth.


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"Seek for the truth and report it."

This sentence have had risen from my mind after we interviewed and asked a question concerning what part of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics do journalists usually followed. We then asked an experienced journalist and told us this quote: ‘’Panindigan ninyo na  lagi kayong  nasa side ng tama [Stand that you are always on the side of the truth].”

According to section 1 of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics, it tells that “a journalist shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress the essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis and recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.”  Everyone, not just journalist, but anyone should be in prejudice to tell, think and perform their duties with the accordance of the truth. Because the truth will set everyone free. Free from malicious thoughts, illegal deeds and from minor or grievous offenses against the law. As a result, they will not fall from the wrongful acts and deeds made from others and also from some effects from their own actions, if there is any.

“A good sense of nose for news and the right intension to inform the people make sense to the public.”

  This sentence was from a paraphrased quote from a journalist of respected TV station and a professor in Bulacan State University in one of interviews concerning the specific question: What can you advise to students of Journalism to prevent violating the Journalist’s Code of Ethics?

He said that not everyone (journalists) have the ability to inform their report to the mass accurately. On the other hand, a reporter should know the significance of the story they will gather and should now the main interest of the public in a specific place at a specific time. Mr. Maturingan added that if a person enters the industry of Journalism, he/she should know also the temptation it contains.

Media-men should identify what are the negative behaviors they should not perform to prevent violating the code. Just like the other employees when going to work for everyday, they always bear in their minds the good manners and right conduct they acquired since childhood. But as humans, people do make certain levels of grievous actions to be dealt with. So as a Journalist, they should know what they should not do.

 In number five of the Journalist’s code it tells that “… nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature which may cast doubt on my professional integrity.” It clearly states that a Journalist should not accept nor give in-kind gifts or money from or to a person that will threaten their reputation. Though it’s hard to refuse such things, and much more if the giver has an intimate relationship or a friend of the receiver, the primary basis is not to taint the ‘professional integrity’. Because the mass media plays a great role as bridge for information in between commoners and the rulers, they should not abuse nor use for self interest the power they have as mind influencer.

Another question was raised for the interviewees based on the code of ethics. The question was:  How not to violate the said code? Another journalist said “Be a god, be a saint; para hindi ma-violate [for not violate].” And the interviewees burst into laughter. Suddenly, l realized what he was trying to accentuate. It was the reality on the other way around that it is difficult not to violate the code. For the reason that it will comes a certain point that the code will be violated when media do not know that they are already stepping out from the boundary. But the sad part is when they do it consciously.

Another correspondent shared his story with regards to the question “does it come to a certain point that you had violated the code?” He stated that he luckily does not have. Then, he continues that, maybe, a certain point had come on his journalism career specifically in the field of print journalism industry that he almost nearly committed the violation. He started his narration way back few years ago when he had a partner in gathering and writing the news for a newspaper. Then one day, he didn’t know why his partner kept on insisting that he wanted to be the one who will attend on a public hearing of Visiting Forces Agreement, considering that this public consultation was held out of town. He was puzzled why his partner was so eager for this hearing. Until his comprehension burst out on his mind after his partner finished interviewing. His partner was from the first batch while he’s in the second batch. As a result, he couldn’t able to interview because his name was already written on the list. In short, his ill-partner used his name to be able to retrieve those important facts under by his name. A displeasing work a journalist had done for the sake of living.

All in all, I realized that being a journalist is not an easy job. Yes, most jobs are difficult to traverse but in the field of journalism, it was different. Not only the fact that media men should know almost every facts and happenings in this planet but also, I realized the hard way that a journalist should follow the code if they have the ability to feed for his family. Then, they will have no choice but to violate it when they cannot able to produce an income to support himself and his family. How can they feed their wife, his children and generate some of their necessities if they will just stick on the “holy” code of ethics? After all, they are also humans. Journalism is a course, a decent work which gives money for a daily living. A human who need to eat, dressed, have a shelter, have an income to support lives and most of all, is to survive. Consequently, it’s their conscience that will speak and judge against them.

Therefore, the part of the Code journalists usually do is to reveal the truth. Then, which part is mostly violated? It’s the time when they ravel the truth. Lastly, for the specific solution on how journalists prevent the violation, they just stay and become bias for the truth. For the truth will set journalists free.
“In the name of bias,for the truth, and for the holy code of ethics, Amen.”


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