This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 1, February 6-12, 2005
‘The day Bulatlat is no longer needed will be a great day for Philippine media’
INDAY ESPINA-VARONA
Editor in chief
Philippine Graphic;
Chair,
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
Congratulations to Bulatlat on its fourth anniversary.
The concept of an alternative web-based, news agency has come of age. While alternative often means a limited scope of coverage, Bulatlat’s version sprawls across the Philippines’ unwieldy socio-political and economic landscape.
The news agency’s intrepid staff has given depth to coverage of agrarian reform issues, labor unrest, constitutional change and governance. It has also allowed those who would otherwise be locked out or be downplayed in “mainstream” media, a chance to have their voices heard.
The high level of professionalism in Bulatlat also belies mainstream perception of alternative news agencies going easy on the rules of ethics and being nothing more than a mouthpiece for vested interests.
Bulatlat has shown, and I hope others will learn from it, the best course for advocacy journalism – incisive, thorough and of a quality at par or even better than mainstream media. Indeed, there is no substitute for competence, which is why Bulatlat has jumped from being a web curiosity to become a choice for mainstream media that want to add depth to reportage.
As Bulatlat enters its fifth year, it is my hope that the rest of Philippine journalism take the road less traveled, so that one day this brave little band of media workers wake up and realize their “baby” has lost its reason for being. It will be a day both sad and glorious. The day Bulatlat is no longer needed will be a great day for Philippine media.
Related articles:
Bulatlat: The People’s Courageous Advocate BY LUIS V. TEODORO
© 2004 Bulatlat ■ Alipato Publications
Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.