Online media become potent poll news source

The online medium became a “powerful" source of news for Filipinos during the country’s first nationwide automated polls last May 10, although information on news websites were focused on national elections and personalities, a media watchdog said Tuesday. Online news sites’ special sections on the May 10 polls provided a “more in-depth look" into the candidates and the automated election process, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility said in a report posted on its website Tuesday. “From just a mere complement to the traditional media during the 2007 elections, the online medium has evolved into a distinct and powerful source of news and information for the 2010 automated polls," the media watchdog said. The CMFR came out with this report after monitoring the following online news websites: GMANews.TV, Inquirer.net, Philstar.com, abs-cbnNEWS.com, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Manila Bulletin, VERA Files, Bulatlat,Pinoy Weekly, NBNi.TV, Mindanews, Newsbreak Online, Philippine Online Chronicles(POC) and 100Araw.com. According to the CMFR, these sites’ use of new web tools, such as social networking sites and interactive maps, helped bring news “closer to the netizens." “These new web tools have brought the online medium several notches above its 2007 presence and contribution," it said in its report. The group likewise noted the “unprecedented" participation of citizen journalists and bloggers in covering the May 10 polls. “Netizens nowadays are not just limited to leaving comments but can upload videos, photos and other reports and interact with website administrators through the social networking sites. The online coverage of the 2010 elections gained more participation and awareness from the citizens compared to the 2007 elections online coverage," it said. Focused on national elections The media watchdog however said that most of the news websites it monitored were focused on the national elections and “mainstream" issues, especially on the “integrity" of the presidential candidates. Most online news reports were also in the “he-said-she-said format" and in-depth investigative reports were “few," the CMFR added. “All these websites focused on the national elections especially the presidential race. The preparations and controversies surrounding the automation of the 2010 polls were also closely watched as well as the absentee voting by the overseas Filipino workers," it said. The group likewise noted that most online news stories on the local elections were “sensational, personality-based" and focused on election related-violence. Despite these, the CMFR said that online media acted as “guide" for Filipinos in the country’s first nationwide automated polls, when there was a great demand for information on candidates and the new electoral process. “(K)eeping up with the vast demand for information, the online media served as guides in the first automated polls in the country," the group said in its report. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV