More objective news programs have started telecasting

“NEWS to Go” hosts Kara David and Howie Severino

Our recent notes on what radio-TV newscasts should and should not be covering appear to have gained more adherents of late. Aside from Pia Hontiveros’ nightly newscast on Solar TV, “News to Go” on GMA News TV, anchored by Kara David and Howie Severino, similarly steers clear of the “crimes, accidents, disasters and scandals” bias evident on less objective news programs.

Viewers should encourage these newscasts by way of their informed patronage, because they deliver the news, not the “noise,” and thus help us more cogently analyze and make sense of what’s happening in the world from day to day.

It’s also heartwarming to note that Solar TV had added other newscasts to its offerings, aside from Hontiveros’ 6 p.m. weekday program. For instance, early in the morning, Jing Magsaysay now reports on the latest news events, priming viewers up for the workday ahead.

Magsaysay’s new program is a particularly welcome addition, because he’s a veteran broadcast journalist, and that adds to Solar’s news “cred.” In general, the channel’s news department fields too many young, new and thus relatively raw reporters, so the presence of Hontiveros and Magsaysay goes a long way in imbuing the news organization and its programs with the essential credibility and experience needed for viewers to “trust” in its reports.

Aside from newscasts, GMA News TV also presents occasional public affairs and environmental specials, like “Sisid,” which we caught last month. Compered by Miriam Quiambao and Howie Severino, the production effectively reminded viewers of our seas’ and oceans’ wealth.

Most striking of all was the revelation that Philippine waters harbor some of the planet’s richest and most diverse underwater life. The fact that many of these creatures are exceedingly

JING MAGSAYSAY of Solar TV’s “Solar Daybreak ”

beautiful is only the icing on the cake.

What’s important is for viewers to realize that these riches aren’t just something to be proud of, but also that they entail responsibilities that we must proactively face up to, if our key advantage is to be enjoyed by future generations.

In particular, we were glad to see Miriam hosting a docu show, because through the years she’s developed herself into an informed and engaged defender of the environment. We hope that she will be given more opportunities to add to her contributions in this area.

Through all of these progressive developments, we hope that our viewers will support objective news reports and insightful public affairs specials.

Only with their enlightened encouragement can the shift from noise to real news become the governing norm, rather than the occasional, and thus insufficient, exception that it continues to be.