‘The truth must always guide us whether we agree with it or not’

‘The truth must always guide us whether we agree with it or not’

CBC’s Marivel Taruc

By Marivel Taruc

To my colleagues, the Philippine Press Club of Ontario, Magandang gabi po, sa inyong lahat.

I am honoured to have been chosen to give this evening’s keynote address about journalism. To belong to a group of dedicated and accomplished journalists, writers, broadcasters from my own community humbles me. To see a number of young and talented Filipino journalists here tonight fills me with pride and hope.

You have probably heard the saying “News is the first rough draft of history”. It was believed to be popularized by Alan Barth, longtime editorial writer for The Washington Post. I also believe that journalism is not only the first rough draft of history, it is often the most honest and the most accurate draft of history – a record of situations and circumstances unfolding at that moment – the magnitude of which may not be determined until well after the event.

From that perspective, journalism carries with it a great responsibility. It is a profession with a constant effort to always be accurate, to always be objective and to always be fair. In that responsibility lies a great challenge – that every story needs to reflect all sides, that regardless of a journalist’s personal beliefs and principles – it must always be the truth that guides us, whether we agree with it or not.

Another great challenge journalists face is reporting on issues and events that expose wrong-doing. That subjects us to threat, intimidation and harm. Research from the Committee to Protect Journalists a US-based, non-profit, independent organization that promotes press freedom worldwide shows 43 journalists were killed this year alone. More than one thousand since 1992. That does not include those who are imprisoned, exiled or missing.

Indeed it hits very close to our community. The CPJ has determined the single deadliest event for the press occurred in the Philippines. It was the Maguindanao Massacre in 2009 – where 57 people including 32 journalists were brutally murdered as a local politician attempted to file candidate papers for an upcoming election. The anniversary was on November 23rd. And I know our community marked that tragic occasion here in Toronto. So there is another cause journalists are fighting – and that is to make governments and those in power more accountable.

In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly issued a Resolution on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. It calls on countries to “ensure accountability through the conduct of impartial, speedy and effective investigations into all alleged violence against journalists and media workers.” And it declared November 2, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
As the trials of those alleged perpetrators and criminal investigations carry on in the Maguindanao Massacre – no resolutions, be it convictions, acquittals or what have you, aren’t expected until 2016 at the earliest.
And as we’ve heard, the world will be watching.
While the conclusions of stories may require great patience for journalists, it must also be accompanied by a dogged resolution to continue telling that story – to follow the developments and stay on top of it. I know in my 21 years working with CBC News, I certainly have not been able to keep track of every development in every story I’ve covered. As individuals, it can be impossible. But as a collective of journalists – whether at the community newspaper level or the mainstream network broadcast level – we can all give voice to the voiceless.

And that is where Toronto’s extensive, impressive and highly-accomplished community and ethnic newspapers, television and radio broadcasters play an integral role. Not only do they cover and analyze important issues facing each of their communities, but they are able to convey those stories in a way that resonates with those in their community.

I was fortunate enough to attend the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada awards last month at Queen’s Park. I was truly honoured to have received an award and to be in the same company as other journalists representing many cultures. Some of whom have made it their life’s work to tell the stories important to their communities. Media from the Afghan, Sri Lankan, Brazilian, Greek, Polish communities. As well as our own Philippine Reporter – where Hermie Garcia was honoured for the newspaper’s excellence in editorial, free expression and long years of service.

Ethnic media are key to keeping our communities in touch with issues here in Canada and back home. A valuable and welcome resource, especially for new Canadians desperate to maintain ties with their mother countries while at the same time trying to build a new life in this country.

I haven’t spoken much about technology and how it has changed our industry. But that’s because I prefer to focus on the cornerstones of journalism – the unmoveable pillars of honesty and fairness. Those will never change even as our methods of communicating do. Technology now allows us to reach more people, more easily, more immediately.

Let’s never forget – wag makalimutan – that no matter what the story and no matter what pressures and challenges we face in telling that story – the truth has to be at the core of everything we do because in truth – there is triumph.
Maraming salamat po.

(Speech delivered at the PPCO Induction of New Members, Nov. 29, 2014, Toronto)