Former Kapamilya broadcast journalist Christian Esguerra discussed the unethical behavior of journalists who accept product endorsements.
In an episode of his online show, Facts First, on May 5, he focused on the unacceptable practice of some journalists promoting various product endorsements.
According to Esguerra, as journalists, their priority should be to avoid conflicts of interest.
“Kasi kapag journalist tayo dapat iniiwasan natin yung conflict of interest. Paano kung yung isang journalist nag-eendorse na isang real estate company or real estate development, sabon or pizza or detergent? Pano kung masangkot sa controversy yung kumpanya na gumagawa noon? Anong gagawin ng journalist? Sasabihin nya, ah hindi ako magrereport tungkol dyan kasi ineendorse ko yan eh, meron daw syang delikadeza.”
The bold broadcaster added that endorsing a product does not reflect their commitment to public service, as it may compromise their reporting if the company they endorse becomes involved in controversy.
“Unang-una dapat iniwasan mo yung conflict of interest to begin with kasi hindi mo sineserbisyohan yung interes ng manonood eh, nang publiko, ang sineserbisyuhan mo interes mo.
“Kasi unang-una ano bang mapapala ng publiko dun sa pagendorso mo ng sabon o nang fastfood, wala naman diba? Ang makikinabang doon, yung advertiser, yung company tsaka ikaw kasi binabayaran ka dun eh. So nasaan yung commitment mo ngayon dun sa public interest, wala? Kasi ang tawag doon pansariling interes.”
In conclusion, he stated that accepting product endorsements as journalists is extremely wrong, and while he apologized for calling them out, he believed it was necessary to address the issue.
“Kaya yun po, napakaistrikto ko dyan. Sa’kin kung matino kang journalist, hindi ka dapat nageendorso. At ang pet peeve ko po dyan na nakakabanas dyan, diba marami tayong naririnig na komentarista, kunyari nagcocoment about an issue, kunyari may binabalita tapos sinisingitan ng ano-anong produkto na ineendorse, mali po yun. It’s very very unethical.
“Pasensya na po sa mga kasama ko sa industriya, pero someone has to say it.”
@christianvesguerra #newsph #factsfirst #christianesguerra #noholdingback #truthbombs
