TV5 anchor Ed Lingao engaged netizens in a “debate” Sunday (June 26) on what constituted as “journalism” in the era of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.
Lingao threw down the gauntlet after reading a story on Politiko about how Mocha Uson, a sexy performer, “outscooped” traditional journalists when she managed to get a one-on-one interview with Duterte.
Lingao posted a link of the Politiko story on his Facebook page along with a sarcastic remark. “Fascinating. So now, a visit by an avid supporter is defined as journalism,” he wrote, clearly referring to Mocha.
In a Facebook post, Mocha bared that she got hold of Duterte at the “Malacañang of the South” in Panacan, Davao by approaching contacts she made during the campaign.
Lingao would later edit his post to issue this “challenge” to supposed journalism experts:
“The comments can really be so interesting. People, please note that I do not care about your political affiliations. This remark is about how we perceive the role of journos, and curiously, how people think they can and should do away with media. You can glean that from many of the comments here. So I do not care if you are pro or anti Digong. But if you presume to lecture me about journalism, be sure you know what you are talking about or you are likely to get nailed. Oh and people, please keep your comments respectable,” he said.
The post has accumulated 130 comments and 122 shares as of this writing.
Mocha’s “scoop” came amid Duterte’s boycott of mainstream media.
Earlier this month, Lingao grabbed headlines when Facebook deleted his post wherein he slammed the proposed burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani–something that Duterte approved.
Source: Politics.com.ph
