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Ted Failon lost his wife and his right to privacy

Rina Jimenez-David is right -- that CELEBRITIES HAVE RIGHTS, TOO. I've been following the news about what happened to Ted Failon since the day his wife was reported to have taken her own life -- a news that was given different angles by the police as reported by the media. The media would obviously do everything to report every detail of the story because this news has many news elements.

Prominence is number one. Ted Failon has been a famous Filipino broadcaster who frequently scrutinizes the "ways of the police." It is with no surprise that the media would not leave any detail unreported because the police surely don't want to leave any detail unreported. Oo nga naman, it's the police's chance to get back to a broadcaster hitting them on air.

Aside from prominence, other elements that make Trina's death newsworthy include conflict (allegedly, Ted and Trina had a fight about something that led to her death), crime (obviously, the media are reporting the angles of the police who openly suggest that there might be foul play, instead of just concentrating on the suicide angle as claimed by Ted Failon), and timeliness and controversy.

It's so sad that Ted Failon lost not just his wife but also his privacy. This must be the most difficult time for Ted Failon so the police should respect that. Even a celebrity should be granted privacy, especially in this kind of situation. Whatever the cause of the death, I guess the police should give him first a chance to spend quiet moments with the wife who just died and with his children who are left with him.

The police and the media should give due respect to anyone who's facing a difficult time. Speaking of media, I also got irritated with how things were being reported. I switched channel from GMA to ABS-CBN and back to GMA when I watched the coverage of the story of Ted Failon when the story hit the airwaves. I noticed that in the middle of the event, while Trina was critical in the hospital, ABS-CBN and GMA continued to compete with stories about Trina. Of course, ABS-CBN was allowed to give exclusive coverages. But my God, in the middle of Trina's fight against death, the two giant stations would still think of rating -- or money, what else? If Trina regained her life or consciousness, what would she think of? Mamamatay na lang sya, pinagkakaperahan pa sya ng kompanya ng asawa nya? Grabe.

It's just a matter of respect. The media should know its limitation. Ted Failon should not beg to these giant networks para tigilan sya. Dapat naman mahiya ang mga networks. Their reporters' "nose for news" has been translated to "nose for rating."

The same thing, the police should, although they need to continue investigation, respect Ted Failon's privacy by not making a controversy out of Ted Failon's situation.

It's true that the people want to know what's happening in the story but I'm sure they also would be happy to see the police and the media respecting a fellow Filipino citizen's right to privacy. This story is no joke, and definitely not a matter of rating nor the time to get back at a prominent person. Those who are involved should take the matter seriously.

Sabi nga ni Danny Arao sa kanyang artikulo:

Siguradong marami ka pang maiisip na mas makabuluhang anggulo na makakatulong sa paghuhubog ng opinyong pampubliko. Ang telenovela ay para lang sa pagbibigay-aliw sa mga tao, at ang pagbabalita ay isang seryosong gawain. Matugunan kaya ng midya ang pangangailangang makapagbigay ng angkop na impormasyon sa mga tao? (Arao, 2009).


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