‘Non-news’ items elicit viewers’ informed reactions

DE LEON. Logical choice for the National Artist award.

Our notes on local TV newscasts and public affairs programs have elicited follow-up observations, suggestions and critiques from readers. The first comment is on the fact that many items in newscasts are about individual crimes, fires and accidents.

A reader points out that many of these reports are actually nonnews items since they don’t add up to a trend or syndrome that can be dealt with and solved in an organized way.

People are robbed all the time, accidents and fires happen every day, so why belabor the obvious?

The TV time these separate coverages use up would be more gainfully utilized by focusing on local and international developments that would be more beneficial and enlightening for the viewing public.

So, why are separate crimes, accidents and fires focused on so much on newscasts? Part of the motivation is information and public service, but the most dominant reason could be the now prevalent “teleserye ng tunay na buhay” mentality. Real-life crimes and accidents captivate viewers’ attention and emotions because they have shock value and invite empathy.

In real life, drivers slow down and pedestrians gawk at a car crash to see it there’s blood or somebody has been severely injured—or worse. If this sounds cynical, it’s also a reality check that we tend to get a perverse “kick” out of other people’s pain or misery.

National Artist awards

At a recent media forum, we were asked about the National Artist awards, and who should be our next awardee for film. In response, we began by saying that, before we even think of the next deserving conferee of the country’s top cultural award, we should insist on  reforms to bring it back to its original credibility and worth.

In the past few years, controversies and questionable decisions have adversely affected the top artistic honor, and yet the people in charge have failed to institute those much-needed reforms.

Now, on the next awardee: After the reforms have been put in place, the “logical” candidates to be seriously considered for the award’s film category include Mike de Leon, Manuel Silos, Gregorio Fernandez, Ramon Estella, Celso Ad. Castillo and Marilou Diaz-Abaya.

Mike leads our list partly because we believe in giving honors to living artists, so they can benefit from them, both on point of psychic satisfaction and financially, since many authentic artists have been so devoted to their art that they are not well-off.

Even on point of objective achievement, however, Mike still stands out, because he hasn’t made many movies, but all of them have been exceptional.

The hope is that, if a living filmmaker like Mike gets the award, it will inspire him to make more, similarly great movies (living National Artists get annual grants for new projects).

Feedback

Thanks to Ketchup Eusebio for taking the time to express his appreciation for our review of his recently concluded  teleserye, “Ningning,” and his “extraordinary because ‘ordinary’” portrayal in it as the juvenile title character’s young father:

“My family and I appreciate it more than you know. To echo what you wrote, I am an ‘ordinary’ guy, so this doesn’t happen to me often. I pour my heart into my role. So, to be noticed by someone as esteemed as you whose opinion is highly valued—that is incredibly motivating. It’s made a lasting impact! Thanks again.”