Reality television as perceived by media practitioners and mass communication students : basis for proposed professional guidelines / Ma. Felma Carlos-Tria. 6

Thesis (M.A.) -- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 2004.;A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate School of Arts, Sciences and Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Communication Management. 56

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ABSTRACT: This research explored the perceptions of media practitioners and Mass Communication students on ethical guidelines and selected factors considered in the Reality TV technique used in investigative reporting and the respondents' similarities and/or differences in perceptions therein. The objective of which was to come up with proposed professional guidelines based on the weaknesses in the aspects presented. The samples included 100 media practitioners from different fields of the media and 110 third year college students from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. The descriptive research method was employed. Data were collected using the survey-questionnaire derived from the Philippine Journalists Code of Ethics, Social Responsibility Theory, and The Declarations of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists. Supplemental interviews with selected media practitioners were also conducted. Results showed that: •

Media practitioners gave the highest rating to SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY and the lowest score to INTEGRITY as regards the investigative programs' extent of adherence to ethical guidelines. •

The Mass Communication students gave the highest rating to SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY and the lowest score to INTEGRITY as regards the investigative programs extent of adherence to ethical guidelines. •

The media practitioners attributed the highest degree of importance to METHODOLOGY and the lowest to CONCEPTUALIZATION as regards the selected factors considered in investigative reporting. •

The Mass Communication students attributed the highest degree of importance to ACCEPTABILITY and the lowest to ISSUES and PROBLEMS as regards the selected factors considered in investigative reporting. •

In ethical guidelines, there is significant difference in the perceptions of the respondents as regards ACCEPTABILITY and ISSUES and PROBLEMS. •

Based on the findings, the researcher came up with this approach: PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE REALITY TV TECHNIQUE 1.

Producers must first notify the subjects of the nature and content of the investigative report done about them prior to the story's broadcast, to give the subjects chance to explain their side or justify footage obtained by the program through undercover tactics. 2.

Following the previous statement, public interest should be qualified as benefiting the common good, and an individual's isolated case should not be generalized as to being experienced by many. 4.

Persons accused of crime should be portrayed innocent until proven guilty. 5.

Journalists should not delegate it upon themselves to harass suspects, solve crime, or pass judgment on the innocence or guilt of their subjects. 6.

They should always separate journalistic inquiry from criminal investigative inquiry. 7.

Complaints must be assessed and dealt with swift response and action. If the network finds that the objection has bearing, public apology must be given with commensurate degree of influence enforced in the initial broadcast that ruined the subject's reputation in the first place.