Sorry seems to be the hardest word

People who work in the media are constantly under pressure to deliver good stories that many will read, watch or listen to. It doesn’t matter whether you do hard national news, witty editorials, local updates, or entertainment-related news; journalists and writers must deliver all the time. Like actors, journalists are only as good as their last story. Still, many people thrive in this high pressure profession. What is the pay-off? For a few, buckets of money and fame; for others, personal fulfillment of seeing your thoughts in print or broadcast form. Still for others, power; be it power to make change or to help others. There is no denying the power of mass media.

But we all know that with great power comes great responsibility also. Journalists and writers must ensure that a sense of ethics frames their writing. And this is for everyone: from the writer of a small-town newspaper to editors of nationally-circulated broadsheets, to broadcast journalists.

I first heard of the call for Malu Fernandez’ head (or blood) from my fellow bloggers. I do not know Ms Fernandez. She apparently writes for Manila Standard Today and for People Asia Magazine, where the travel story appeared. I read with mounting dismay each scathing comment of Ms Fernandez against OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) she flew with and encountered at the Dubai duty free shops. I tried to find some due cause for her discomfiture but found none. Her story did not mention any of these OFWs engaging her in what-she-would-consider mundane conversations or forcing some products unto her. It seems that the mere presence of OFWs both on the plane and on the duty free shops annoyed her enough to ‘pop sleeping pills’ to escape the prattle and chatter.

I wonder if she would react the same way if the Filipinos she encountered were white collar workers like stockbrokers, financial analysts, and consultants, or moneyed, or simply belonging to a higher social and financial status than her.

Apparently the article resulted in angry emails being sent to the editors of the magazine. But what caused further damage to Ms Fernandez was her response to her story. I will not delve into the details of her response (just follow the link), other than she remains unapologetic for doing what she did because she thought she was being ‘acerbically witty’. She added that even her friends found the article ‘hilarious’, apparently because they all belong to the same economic background. She also imparted a lesson in contemporary history by saying that the Philippines was built on ‘the foundation of haves, have-nots, and the wannabees’. Interesting, isn’t it?

Again, I wonder, to which of these groups does Ms Fernandez think she belongs to? Judging from the middling quality of her prose, the incessant need to name-drop and mention all sorts of brands, and too much emphasis on air ticket classes and bank account balances, I would put her somewhere within the third group, elbowing her way out to make it closer to the first group. But then, it’s just me.

I read the article over and over again and still thought that it was not funny at all. It was very personal, true, but I found it very superficial also. I have read countless articles of ‘high scoiety’ people and found them engaging, and sincere; some were even well-written. But there was nothing engaging and sincere in Ms Fernandez’s article. But again, this is just me and my opinion.

I can respect her for saying that what she wrote was funny and witty if indeed she and her friends saw it that way. I am not in the position to say that other people’s perceptions are wrong, even if I don’t agree with them. But Ms Fernandez should remember that she is not writing for herself and her friends only. If she feels that this is the case, she should just write a journal and share it to her circle of friends only, not to have it published in nationally-circulated publications and get paid for it as well.

As I said in my letter to the editor of the Manila Standard Today, the issue here is ethics on the part of Ms Fernandez. Because ethics affects sensitivity and respect for other people.  I mean, Ms Fernandez, you don’t have to be a politician to know that OFWs around the world are already sacrificing so much by leaving their families so they can earn enough money to improve their lives. You see, unlike you, many OFWs don’t have much choice. So they go abroad even if they experience all sorts of discrimination and abuse from employers and other unscrupulous people. The last thing they need is for a fellow Filipino like you to insult them in the guise of ‘being humorous and tongue-in-cheek’.

I hope this makes you understand why people reacted negatively to your article. In your writing you project yourself to be someone who is intellectually superior to many people but not all intelligent people are rude or obnoxious. You see, it takes more intelligence to be patient and polite to others who do not share your IQ level. Also, as someone who seems to know the best things in life (hotels, cosmetics, perfumes, fashion, even friends), you don’t seem to see the line dividing good taste and bad taste when it comes to being acerbic. That line is very thin (and I am also risking crossing the boundaries in telling you this) and it requires a keen vision to really see it and understand what it stands for.

Being a columnist you hold the power not just to entertain your readers with your travels and escapades, but please do not forget that you can also utilize this power to share meaningful things about life and living, not just ways to put others down in order to uplift your self. You do not have to apologize for what you wrote, especially if you feel that you were just being true to yourself when you wrote those words. The least you can do is apologize for the negative feelings that your words caused, and a firm commitment that such misstep will not happen again.

It’s hard, I know.