Accuracy above all

May 7

Mayon Volcano just erupted! And I was alone in the station, I don’t know what to do!

GMA Reporter Lia Manalac posted a photo on twitter with a caption saying that Mayon Volcano erupted. 

Since I was alone, I was very hesitant in breaking the news. First, the photo did not look like the volcano erupted and second, I just can’t move my fingers.

Since I was thought hardcore about accuracy in the university, I decided to asked the “weather people” about what happened and they told me that the phenomena was known as ash ejection and not a magmatic eruption.

So I tweeted: “Nagbuga ng abo ang Bulkang Mayon” with the photo of Lia Manalac.

We were not the first to break the news, since ANC beat us by 3 minutes but they said it was an eruption.

My supervisor, Mr. Ederic Eder, commended me for not undermining accuracy over speed.

Lesson learned: Yes, we are now in the age of new media where the competition really tightened. However, accuracy still is one of the pillars of journalism which journalists should carry over any medium for it should cross any development in the media industry.