Radio’s values should be defended, upheld

We’ve been listening to our trusty and hopefully not rusty radio much more after this month, to find out how the medium is faring in this age when television reigns supreme. The good news is that local radio stations are as busy as ever, and are not about to be rendered passé by TV’s current phenomenal popularity, since they’ve worked out an implicit arrangement of appealing to separate audiences.

In the area of quality, however, the performance of AM radio sometimes leaves a lot to be desired on point of professionalism, good work ethic, responsibility and creativity. Some radio talents appear to have taken the importance of their work for granted, and are lazily “winging it” without much thought, initiative and “passion.”

For one thing, some program hosts start their shows late! “Star” personalities are more than just occasionally absent from their programs, which are taken over by lesser lights “sa ngalan ni…”

We also note with dismay that some radio people are not broadcasting out of a genuine sense of public service and information, but to sell products or solicit donations. A number of shows exclusively promote alternative medical products and services, there are a lot of religious shows around that keep plugging for support in cash or kind, and valuable airtime is wasted on endless birthday greetings, plugs for friends’ events or businesses—etc.!

Some exceptions

Indeed, after listening all morning to many radio shows, the only really sensible one we caught was a long interview with an expert on the Mindanao peace process—a complicated issue that both program host and guest made very helpfully clear.

Kudos to the people involved in such “exceptions” to the lazy and desultory rule, but aren’t all professional radio people supposed to be focused and objectively informative?

In news and public affairs, the information provided is sometimes slanted and made subjective by all sorts of “entertaining” plays and distractions, like thumping background music, stingers and other aural “exclamation points” intended to add “drama” and “excitement” to the report at hand.

Worse, some news readers also act as commentators, “interpreting” the reports’ significance and impact, questioning motives, speculating about political connections and repercussions…

Worst of all, some self-styled opinion-makers love to “prove” their independence and come across as “defender of the masa” by savaging government and business leaders, calling them names, just because they don’t agree with what they’ve done.

Clearly, too many radio people are being allowed to do and say whatever they want on air. Where are the station managers who are supposed to remind them of their responsibilities as broadcasters? Are some of them afraid to critique radio “stars” who are too powerful and popular to be controlled?

Listeners’ part

Finally, where are the radio listeners in all this? Are they happy with the service that radio people are providing them? If not, why don’t they speak up and call for improvements?

Do they think it’s OK for them and their impressionable children to be exposed to the sometimes vile language that passes for sensible and responsible radio communication these days? Radio is too powerful and influential a medium to be left in the hands of people who subvert its virtues and values.