Preparing for the “Samabyang.”

At first look, you would assume that there’s another bombing incident in Mindanao in the regions’ section of GMA News Online. But actually, the upper headline is just the sames as the previous one. Editors could have simply marked it as update– as they always do. Otherwise, the public would assume that there was a separate bomb attack in Mindanao.

As of this writing, the headline of the same news website still says: “Bomb attack on Cotabato City cathedral kills four, hurts 30.” It’s clear on the story , not just on GMA News, that the bomb went off across the church and not even inside the compound of Immaculate Concepcion cathedral. Although the blast scene is just about 20 meters away from the gate the Cathedral,  it’s still not right to write the headline that way.

I understand that writing headlines should always be ‘catchy’ but it should not sacrifice the accuracy or even mislead the public. Accuracy is the word.  With that headline, it really appears that there is an attack against the place of worship. It adds fuel to the already complex Moro-Christian relationship in the region.

With this kind of treatment to stories, it does not actually help to the atmosphere of peace in Mindanao. Because for those who are not really familiar with the situation in Mindanao, it really appears that the conflict here in Mindanao has something to do with the religion.  That headline has an undertone.

For the story to sell, sensationalize it? I think it should not be like that. For the story to be credible, get it right.

Photos: AKP Images / Keith Bacongco | Music: Kapayapaan by Tropical Depression

DATU PIANG, Maguindanao – What would have taken only a few minutes to negotiate the 14-kilometer stretch from the Cotabato-General Santos highway to Datu Piang in Maguindanao took more than an hour as thousands of evacuees and residents lined the road chanting “MOA-AD,” raising messages written down on manila paper, sack and plywood, demanding government to “respect, implement, sign and support” the MOA-AD (Froilan Gallardo / Mindanews) . read more