I want to be famous!

THU, JANUARY 26, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

A career is a rapid motion. A course of action. A professional conduct in life. A progress through life. What is a careerist? One who rushes widely and makes his own personal advancement his or her own aim in life.

When career doubts won’t go away? What if you’re not happy in your job? Is it possible that you’re in the wrong entirely?

My parents always (!) wanted me to become a banker. So far so good. Why not? Maybe I would have been more (or very happy) in my job. Or not?

The pressure “to be” someone starts in life early indeed. Not only my parents, also peers and teachers begun to exert influence. Yes, I even didn’t know where my inclinations lie.

Being a doctor or a lawyer? Yes, I was interested in law and medicine during that time.

“The way that people pick careers is incredibly primitive,” said Nicholas Lore, founder of the Rockport Institute, a career coaching firm, and author of “The Pathfinder”. So, it’s no wonder, he said, that so many people are dissatisfied with their jobs. Me too! Yes, count me in! Not mass-communication has been been my subject, but publishing house management. So far so good.

I always thought about a true calling for me. Sure, people whose careers aren’t the right fit often feel like impostors, the Professor Robert I. Sutton, an organizational psychologist at Stanford University in Palo Alto, said. Very, very well said, Sir.

How about you, my dear reader? Are you also placing too high your value on the external rewards of job, like money, prestige and power? Sure, these things are indeed important. Hold on! The work you do and the skills your opportunity require and the value of your work are really more vital to fulfillment. Paperwork or not…. You think, you find a better career fit? Go ahead – but don’t expect that this is your life’s career!

I waited my “better calling” experiencing many better and wonderful moments in life. I experienced also that what I did had been very much compatible to me, as what my parents thought.

I became what I am now. A professor, a businessman, yes -thank you Lord!- a columnist, radio host and an expatriate in the Philippines since 18 years now (!) enjoying life here and cherishing the incredible companionship with these incredible Filipino people.

Philippines has World's 3rd Most Journalists' Killings

The Philippines had the third most number of journalists killed last year and has continued to be among the countries where press freedom is imperiled, according to two international media watchdogs.

In its "Killing the Messenger" report released Tuesday, the London-based International News Safety Institute (INSI) said that last year 14 journalists were killed in the Philippines, next to Syria with 20 journalists killed and Iraq with 16.

The INSI reported that 134 journalists and media staff were killed in 29 countries in 2013, of which 69 happened in peacetime while the rest during armed conflicts in different parts of the world.

Of the 14 journalists killed in the Philippines, four were officially listed as having died while they were working at a radio station in Tacloban City in central Philippines when super typhoon Haiyan hit the area on Nov. 8, 2013.

According to the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), a local media watchdog, 10 other media workers, who were on duty when the typhoon struck, have remained missing and were presumed to have died.

Also late last year, three radio commentators in southern Philippines were gunned down within two weeks but up to now the killers have not been apprehended.

In the Philippines, particularly in the provinces, anyone can buy radio time where part-time commentators attack or malign their enemies on air. The object of these attacks often resort to hiring a professional killer to "silence" the commentator. Killings like these almost always remain unsolved in the Philippines.

According to the INSI, of the total casualties, 65 died covering armed conflicts, primarily in Syria and Iraq, while 51 were killed in peacetime covering issues like crime and corruption, and 18 died in accidents.

The total was down from 152 deaths recorded in 2012, but there was an accompanying rise in assaults, threats and kidnappings directed at journalists that largely go unreported, the INSI said.

Last week, the international media group Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters without Borders) also said that the media situation in the Philippines has remained in a "difficult situation" and the environment of freedom "has even worsened."

According to the RSF's "2014 World Press Freedom Index" the Philippines went down two notches to the 149th among 180 countries included in the index.

The Philippines ranked 156th in 2010 after the Maguindanao Massacre on Nov. 23, 2009 when 32 of the 58 people killed were journalists.

According to the RSF, the Philippines and Pakistan are among the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.

When Philippine President Benigno Aquino III took office in 2010, the country managed to climb to the 140th spot in 2011 before sliding down again to the 147th place last year.

Even the troubled countries of Mali (now ranked 122nd) and the Central African Republic (now 109th), which dropped more than 120 spots, were better off than the Philippines, the index showed.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that the Aquino administration has failed to make any "significant progress" last year to address impunity in media killings.

The HRW listed only 12 Filipino journalists killed in 2013 which has brought to 26 the total number of journalists killed since Aquino assumed office in June 2010.

According to HRW of the 26 media killings, police have arrested suspects in only six cases and the government has secured convictions in only two cases.

Reacting to the media watchdogs' findings, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the Aquino administration is " committed" to pursue and prosecute the assailants of slain journalists.

"We will continue to ensure that there are no prior restraints to the exercise of press freedom," Coloma said.

But the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) said that killing of journalists in the Philippines has remained unabated even during the present administration.

"The apparent apathy of the government toward killings and attacks against press freedom emboldens attackers to inflict harm as they go unpunished," the NUJP said in its Facebook page. 

Professional Ethics

Re-published Editorial in MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR with friendly permission of the Publisher Marietta Siongco - May 25, 2013

As early as 7 a.m. last Wednesday, several Davao City journalists trooped to the burning Department of Psychiatry of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), also referred as the Mental Hospital in Davao City, for coverage. It was certainly a newsworthy incident, not least because the facility is 95 years old and is the only public mental hospital in Mindanao. However, it also turned out to be a most unfortunate for two photo journalists and a television cameraman who were blatantly harassed by hospital personnel as they were performing their jobs.

The hospital men, including a nurse, doctor, clinical Lebbe, and a security guard heaped verbal and physical assault on the three journalists yelling at them, grabbing their cameras and holding their arms as they ordered them to forcibly delete all the photos and videos they took.

Aside from undermining the right of freedom of expression and editorial independence of the journalists, the hospital men deliberately deprived the journalists  of respect as persons of self-esteem and pride.

...

The basic value of respect was obviously not of importance for the ill-mannered hospital men as as well as Chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega quickly apologizing for his men's behavior. Journalism is regulated solely by the criteria of professional ethics, a basic journalism, a basic journalism principle that makes the journalists undeserving of such harassment. Those who elbow their way into the journalists' rights should be slapped with appropriate administrative and legal and sanctions.

Philippine Press Institute Goes Live Streaming

For the first time since 1997 when the first press forum was organized, the Philippine Press Institute will cover live its 16th National Press forum on Media Accountability and Public engagement via video streaming on April 23 and 24 at Traders Hotel manila.

This is made possible by the Information Technology Ventures (ICTV) which offered its services and technical resources for free. Considered as one of the most anticipated annual gathering of publishers and editors from the 71-member newspaper of the institute, the Press forum will be accessed via Internet TV, to specifically cater to audiences who will not be able to attend the conference.

This year's exclusive broadcast partner TV 5, will also cover the vent from start to finish. Speeches from the main forum and industry forum will be made available in the PPI website www.philpressinstitute.com .

President Benigno Aquino is keynote speaker in the opening ceremonies. He is the first head of state to grace the annual event. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is guest of honour in the Civic Journalism Community Press Awards which will honour outstanding community newspapers for excellence in various categories.

The PPI is celebrating its 48th founding year and 25th year since reactivation in 1987. Dubbed as "PPI: Legacy of a Free Press', the celebration recognizes the restoration of democracy in the country through the historic People power that eventually reinstated social institutions, the media included.

Journalists Told To Spread God’s Word

 

An interesting post. Check it out here:

 Journalists told to spread God’s word

Media Must Tell the Truth in The Philippines

Please check out this very important post and a statement, which is also coming from the bottom of my heart being a foreign journalist, living in the wonderful Philippines for good since 1999 and forever... .

Media must tell the truth, says priest

I Am Back - In Printed Media

I grew up writing articles when I became 14 for a college magazine. 

1969 I started with the local daily Westfalenblatt Bielefeld, Northrine Westfalia, West Germany.

During the 1980s I met my Philippine mentor Professor Dres. Monsignore Hermogenes E. Bacareza, former Chaplain of the Philippine Community in Berlin. 

I started my first column in the mission oriented TINIG NG BAYAN, published in Abra. Since that time I was honoured and blessed being able to publish columns in different Philippine publications.

Since February 2011 I am so blessed becoming a regular Friday columnist of Mindanao Daily Mirror. Thank you so much to the publisher and editor-in-chief  "Tita" Marietta F. Siongco and  general manager,  society editor  and health journalist   Ana Theresa F. Basilio,  B.S.N. and R.N.

Besides all "internet-stuff' I will remain as an "old fashioned printed media journalist" living in the Philippines since 1999 for good and loving this country, which became my second home.