'Journalists are Human Beings with Emotions and Subjective Views on Everything'

Journalists have a moral obligation to understand and cover issues on human rights, stated Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project director Alan Davis in a media conference in the Philippine capital of Manila last year.

Davis, who is also director for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) special projects, is convinced that media and human rights are "inextricably linked" and the media's commitment to the protection of human rights should be a "badge of honour".

Developed by IWPR in partnership with national media development and support organisations, the Project aims to create awareness about human rights in the Philippines among journalists which would result in increased media coverage and reportage of said issue.

In his speech, Davis emphasised the importance of a journalist having a sense of duty to bear witness to any violation of basic human rights.

"It is not a perversion of media to be engaged with and committed to the protection of human rights...We all use and oversue the phrase 'the need to be objective' when in fact there is really no such thing as real objectivity," said Davis.

He continued: "Reporting is not a science and reporters are not scientists. Journalists are human beings with emotions and subjective views on everything."

He further said that balanced reporting comes in not merely reporting the views of two opposing sides. True balance, he said, is "showing the real impact and effect of something — the effect of policy".

"In fact, I often think our media is far too concerned with statements on policy and not the actual impact — or non-impact of that policy," he added.

Too balanced a reporting, too, oftentimes leaves an audience feeling confused.

He cited a Philippine annual report sent to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which non-government organisations declared a "whitewash", and how the media reported both sides of the coin.

"So the stories were balanced. But what was the truth? Is the government right or are the NGOs right? The public is left feeling confused. So sometimes the media have to call it. We, the audience, sometimes need more — a lot more," said Davis.

Davis also called for the need to instill a good human rights reporting culture in the Philippines, including a strong presence in the curricula of journalism schools.

"There is the political or city hall beat, the police or crime beat and maybe the business beat. But there is no time or space for a human rights beat."

"But nor does there need to be — so long as journalists understand better human rights," he said.

After all, he said, human rights "pervade virtually everything" and are not just about crisis or conflict, but also relate to socio-economic, cultural and developmental rights. Issues like poverty, the right to education, employment laws, domestic violence and land rights, he added, are every day issues that the media "have a moral obligation to understand and cover".

"It is our job to try and inspire the new generation of journalists. And the way to do it is by showing how now, more than ever, the media and in particular, human rights journalism, is one of the best ways to serve, protect and strengthen society," said Davis.

To read the full speech, click here.