Andronico Del Rosario
Interrupting a live broadcast from the President of the United States is usually something US broadcasters don’t do.
The times seem to be changing, though.
In what can only be described as a “small moral victory”, US networks abruptly cut off a live broadcast from current US President Donald Trump.
MSNBC immediately cuts off Trump when he moves to undermine the integrity of US election system.
"Here we are again in the unusual position of not only interrupting the President of the United States but correcting the President of the United States…" pic.twitter.com/IwVshBmosK
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 5, 2020
Only the pro-Trump network Fox carried his speech all the way to the end.
On Fox News, anchors @BretBaier and @marthamaccallum pretty much repeat all of Trump's baseless charges uncritically after his statement undermining the integrity of the US election. pic.twitter.com/2C0tRYR3JZ
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 6, 2020
Trump was cut off by ABC News, CBS News, and, as shown in the clip, NBC News for “undermining the integrity of the US election system”, according to CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy.
NBC News Anchor Brian Williams sounded exasperated as he said, “Here we are again in the unusual position of not only interrupting the president of the United States but correcting the president of the United States.”
This move prompted a flood of tweets from some of the country’s top journalists.
WATCH: Imagine if we did this in the Philippines…. https://t.co/lZs1RN6DAM
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) November 6, 2020
When calling out on a lie is simply not enough… https://t.co/zSNlI9NKNB
— Raffy Tima (@raffytima) November 6, 2020
I second this. https://t.co/zeVRtNp3pf
— Ces Oreña-Drilon (@cesdrilon) November 6, 2020
Fact checking at its quickest and best. Extreme Vigilance needed to guard against lies and disinformation. https://t.co/KAtxLHeUR2
— GING REYES (@gingreyes) November 6, 2020
Maria Ressa, who leads Rappler, said it best.
It's a journalist's responsibility to fact-check and spotlight the lie(s). https://t.co/xSXd7SXg4n
— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) November 6, 2020
Others pointed out how this could be done by local journalists, but are hampered by the political climate.
So many lessons for Philippine media from US media’s coverage of their elections. Foremost I’ve seen so far is not to amplify allegations of poll fraud without evidence, and more than that, keep on stressing everything that’s happening is regular and typical of all elections.
— Prinz Magtulis (@prinzmagtulis) November 6, 2020
You should have been doing that in the Philippines Ms. Karen.
But sadly, the media here in the country just contributed to the propaganda of spreading the inaccuracies, lies, and deceit of our leaders: afraid of retaliation from the powers that be…or because of vested interest
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) November 6, 2020
LESSON FROM US COVERAGE: When ABC, CBS and NBC decided to stop the live coverage of Trump's press briefing, it was because of his baseless claims of voter fraud. In the Philippines, it is time to rethink the news media organizations' live coverage of Duterte's ramblings.
— Danilo Arao (@dannyarao) November 6, 2020
This is how it’s done, PH media! https://t.co/gLxJizF6ay
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) November 6, 2020
Some pointed out how local media are forced to parrot what the President says for fear of having their network disenfranchised.
US President: I was cheated!
US media: False, unsubstantiated, illogical, non-sensicalPH President: Drug matrix
PH media: Umano’y drug matrix— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) November 6, 2020
Time for Ph media to evolve their reportage:)
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) November 6, 2020
Between threats from local government officials and the threat of death, at times as large as the Maguindanao Massacre, journalists are still understandably fearful.
However, while it is true that most local media are continuously held back by the government, there are those who are not afraid of asking the hard questions.
Christian Esguerra and Karen Davila come to mind, both of whom anchor ANC News’ hardest-hitting newscasts: Matters of Fact and Headstart respectively.
Journalists with smaller audiences—i.e. those who cover and deliver news within their provinces—are also quite bold in their reporting.
Local newsrooms, however, should take their cue from networks like CBS, NBC, and ABC, who cut off a lying president with unfounded conspiracies and claims.
