CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – Media literacy is crucial in the fight against disinformation and helps ensure that the public is accessing accurate information that will form the basis for informed decisions, especially on divisive national issues.
This was emphasized by Prof. Ma. Theresa Angelina “Mayette” Tabada of the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu, as she urged the public to verify the information first before sharing it online.
“We check our facts and our biases. We triangulate or verify information before we believe and share the information on social media,” Tabada pointed out.
She said there is a need for self-regulation and ethical journalism to uphold truth and combat disinformation.
Tabada points to the controversy surrounding former President Rodrigo Duterte, focusing on his administration’s War on Drugs and the alleged role of state institutions in extrajudicial killings.
She noted that these unresolved issues remain a source of division among Filipinos, with tensions resurfacing following Duterte’s recent arrest.
“Like old sins and old memories, our past marks our present,” she added, emphasizing the enduring impact of historical accountability on today’s sociopolitical landscape.
Likewise, UP Cebu Mass Communication instructor and ABS-CBN Cebu correspondent Annie Perez-Gallardo emphasized the role of mainstream media in upholding journalistic integrity.
She reminds the public that credible news organizations follow strict verification and editorial processes.
“The news and information released by legitimate media pages and sites have gone through a filter of verification and editorial judgment. This is the job they have sworn to uphold and will continue to strive for,” said Gallardo.
She explained that professional journalists adhere to the ABCs of journalism: Accuracy, Balance, and Clarity.
In contrast, social media content that lacks editorial oversight may not adhere to the same ethical standards.
While freedom of expression protects all forms of online discourse, she warns that unverified information can mislead and divide the public.
“The effort to report and write is doubled for the media — all to ensure that their reporting remains objective for the Filipino people,” she added. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)
