HOW TO CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW

Who wouldn’t know America’s favorite talk-show host, Oprah Winfrey? Incase you don’t, then surely your very much familiar with our very own Kris Aquino. As well as Korina Sanchez and Mel Tiangco who are both not only talk-show hosts but are also popular news anchors. Besides talking, a common thing these people do once the cameras and lights are on is asking questions, or what we call an interview.

An interview has two basic types namely: formal and informal. A formal interview is usually conducted after a prior appointment with the interviewee or which we sometimes term as the source. He should know before hand the topic of the discussion. On the other hand, an informal interview, also known as an ambush interview is on-the-spot and usually occurs to public figures such as politicians and celebrities where they get to be questioned spontaneously in an unexpected time or place.

Whether formal or informal, the interviewer has to be prepared with good, relevant questions. Preparation also requires research. As an interviewer, you ought to have adequate background information regarding the topic which would be discussed.

Ask the most necessary questions first. This is most important during ambush interviews where there is limited time. Also, the interviewer should be prompt when he has asked for an appointment for he is just asking for a favor.

To avoid distracting the interviewee’s attention, the interviewer must observe proper grooming as well as hygiene and must dress appropriately. The interviewer on the other hand must also pay attention to what the source is talking about and use facial expressions properly to encourage the source.

Certain media practitioners these days tend to put aside ethics, which they have sworn to take into considerations. A credible interviewer figures out a way to get his source to speak but still keeps in mind the interviewee’s rights, especially to keep his silence regarding an issue raised.

The interviewer must be cautious in asking sensitive questions so as not to offend the interviewee. In talk shows, the host sometimes plays with words and does not shoot a question directly to get a more honest answer. Hard-nosed questions should not hurt, embarrass or intimidate the source.

To keep it short, just remember that the key in conducting an interview is trust. A journalism professor has said it all, “Interviewing is the art of gaining trust, then gaining information.”

SIBLINGS AREN’T ALWAYS JUST A PAIN IN THE ASS

Cherry and Cecille are siblings who happened to be both my classmates back in elementary and high school. Cecille, who’s good in sports, being the eldest often complains about her sister’s “kill-joy” attitude, while Cherry, who excels in class, being more mature, complains about Cecille’s being irresponsible. Besides being two different people with contrasting characteristics, their birth position seemed to have interchanged which often resulted to small and big clashes to the point that at least one or even both of them end up saying “I’d be better-off without a sister”.

Easy for them to say but (knock on wood) wait ‘til they lose each other and realize how it is to be the only child. Sure, being the unica ija or unica iho as we Filipinos term it, gives you better chances of getting what you will need or want. You could get to have a better education, a room, clothes, and other stuffs of your own. You wouldn’t be obliged to share with someone else in the family, especially when it comes to your parents’ undivided attention. Best of all, competition would not be an issue. Don’t we just hate it when we get to be compared with someone else? It’s like we could not grow as unique individuals. And yes, this most often happens to siblings and may result to inferiority complex.

Let us look at the brighter side. Siblings may be annoying at times but accept it or not, would still be those first few good souls to remind you that the whole world has not totally turned its back on you when we are on our darkest hours. People we mingle with when we are in school, our workplace, or our favorite hang-out place may be deceiving but those inside our humble homes would forever remain true and would readily support and protect us twenty-four-seven

Being the only child may offer more tangible advantages, but with it comes more responsibilities. Imagine the burden of running errands for your parents and being scolded all by yourself. Doing household chores would be a lot easier with helping hands. And if you commit mistakes, you know that there are two or more of you to be blamed. In time, we would have to return our parent’s efforts on raising us. It will be a fulfilling but huge responsibility since we would also be raising a family of our own at the same time. Who then would we share these responsibilities with?

“The more the merrier” as they say. Nothing compares to having someone who truly knows and understands you during your ups, despite your downs. And this someone may be in no other place than our own homes and may be no other than our own sibling or siblings, no need to be searched for, only to be further appreciated.

THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE DONE

Stupidity: lack of intelligence, perception, or common sense. If Encarta is not mistaken, I believe that I have experienced stupidity countless times within a decade and seven years of my existence in this planet. Who would have not? Its human nature, isn’t it?

Most of the time, people, as well as I act stupid for laughter. But it may also be unintentionally committed. Just like when I doubted God’s presence. I may not be certain if it really is the stupidest thing I have done but it is indeed something I forever would remember.

It was the darkest chapters of my life when I questioned if He really does exist. I got tired of asking “why are these happening?”, “what have I done?”, “why me?” and so on. And so I just asked, “Are you really there?” My thoughts were so suspicious. I remember that someone once told me that God is just a mere image of hope for the people, nothing more than that. I told myself that he might be right. No one has seen him, and the books of the bible were just written by human-beings, imperfect, just like me. I thought that I may just be wasting my time asking for forgiveness and blessings from something or someone I am not so certain of.

Bewildered, a verse unconsciously came into my mind, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.” That’s faith. God is like the wind, we don’t see it and yet when we feel it, we’ll know that it’s there. In the end, I have come to realize that God answers all our prayers but in three ways: he says “yes”, “no” and “wait.” I learned that if he doesn’t answer my prayers. It is because he would answer it in his time or he has something better for me. Still, despite my stupidity, I know and feel that God loves me.

VJ Hunt '07

There is just so many things that I’d like to tell the world about the VJ Hunt that I don’t even know how or where to start. I don’t know how I’d express all my thoughts in an uncluttered manner. I do think that people tend to be speechless not because they have nothing to say but because there are so many things running in their minds that they do not know how they’d get it all out, not forgetting every single detail.

For fear that I might miss what I really wanted to say, I’ll start it of with this statement: I am so proud and honored to have been part of this production!

My statement may sound cheesy and the word “honor” may sound too big for a school production but for those who have failed to be a part of it, put your shoes in ours and you’d say exactly the same or even more.

For the benefit of people who are not from AUF, and those from the University but are not well informed, VJ Hunt is an annual University-based competition organized by the SAMASKOM, or Samahan Ng Mga Mag-aaral sa Komunikasyon. The chief in-charged of the production would be the 3rd Year Mass Communication Class of the year. In short, we are in-charged.

It’s primary objective is to discover students with the passion and skill for speaking not only in public but also in front of the camera and give them the opportunity to expose what they have. Who knows, they might be the next big thing like our very own Donita Rose and KC Montero of MTV.

Although VJ Hunt is an annual event, it has been reinvented this year. The competition has been opened to high school participants all over Pampanga. Four high schools namely Special Science School, Pampanga High, L’Altra Montessori and AUF Integrated School have competed in the pair category while seven college representatives competed in the solo category.

Another element which has just been added is the “theme”, which was “Retro”. It was certainly a great proposal. But as much as I loved the idea of having a theme, I was kind of hesitant. Designing and setting the stage wasn’t the dilemma. It may be tough but it was fun and we know that everything will eventually come into place. What made me kind of hesitant about the idea was requiring the participants to dress up ala Retro. Primarily because they might have to spend for their outfit. And also, we Filipinos have this characteristic of always being on safer side. We have this mentality that if we dress up, we’d be noticeable in a negative manner, that we’d fail to try out new things and always stick on what is basic. But they totally proved me wrong. I was extremely thrilled to see the finalists in their Retro costumes. They all looked fabulous!

I really appreciated how these people exerted efforts on looking and being their best despite the fact that even if they win, the only thing that they will get, besides from fame and pride is a very simple trophy, no cash, no freebies.

I really loved all the finalists. They were not only competitive. They were both interesting and interested. They were fun to work with, easy to instruct and more than willing to make our work lighter. They have been very patient, understanding and appreciative. It was a school competition, so as expected, we wouldn’t have the budget for perks. So seeing them build friendship between their co-candidates and knowing that they were having fun and they were learning would have meant a lot for them but more especially to us. It’s one of the factors why we feel fulfilled.

After weeks of labor and months of planning, the VJ Hunt has finally happened. It wasn’t exactly as organized as we wanted it to be but we believe that it was successful and above the average. We received a positive feedback from the audience and our mentors. We were so happy. The outcome was worth the stress, not to mention, the pimples. But I’d be a lot happier if I didn’t get more acne. Well, that’s life! I am just so proud of our accomplishment. It has been a product of our education, experience, determination and most important of all, unity…

Congratulations ABMC 3! I love you all!

Charge to Experience

“Charge to experience” would have to be one of my favorite lines. I believe that it is a defense mechanism for us people whenever we commit a mistake or get into a not-so-good situation. It’s what we say to ourselves and to other people to uplift souls despite a negative experience. Come to think of it, I think this line applies to me every single day. It’s a simple and positive way of saying “yes, it wasn’t that good but you will learn from it”

Online Newspaper - latest technology in mass media

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I do not read newspapers, and being a Communication Student, I think I should be embarrassed of what I have just said. Well, I do read once-in-a-while. However, I think it is as good as saying I have read a newspaper once in my life.

We used to have piles of newspaper in our storage room back in our old home. My dad always starts the day with a paper, as a part of his breakfast but I was never really hooked into reading them. I just like the thrill of earning extra bucks by selling them at the nearest junkshop.

When I am too early for class or I have nothing to do and there is no vacant computer in the internet room, I go through the broadsheets. I prefer reading them because they are accessible compared to books. You can just pick them up from the stand or the front desk rather than search for a single appealing book from thousands placed on the shelf.

More often, I get to read newspapers for projects, in other words, when I have no option but to do so. Not wanting to spend is not an excuse for us students. The library has a daily supply of the three leading national broadsheets.

However, I came up with the closest reasons I can think of:

1. I think newspapers are messy and inconvenient to read. (I know this is a petty one but it’s true). Every time I read, I get black stains on my fingertips and it becomes a problem when it stains my white uniform. I also have to stretch my arms to hold it because of its size. Lastly, the pages sometimes get mixed up.
2. I also get the top news from television.
3. We have the Internet, to be more specific, the online newspaper.

But what is the online newspaper? I am pretty that the majority is not aware of this advancement. But I don’t think it needs a definition for the term is self explanatory.

Many, especially those involved in the industry of printed newspaper have been against the said technological breakthrough. Obviously, it will cause the declining profit margins and declining circulation in daily newspapers.

We have online games, online encyclopedia and even online shopping. I don’t think having an online newspaper should be seen in the negative perspective. I do think that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages.

The most visible advantage of the web newspaper its ability to rapidly update itself. Unlike the printed newspaper, readers can get hold of the latest news anytime, anywhere there is a computer and internet connection. There is no need to wait for the following day for the printed newspaper to be circulated all over the country. This way, the press can sooner and better perform its duty as the fourth estate.

What you have read yesterday or the other month will still be available without having to go through dusty and almost rotten newspapers that you have kept.

Lastly, it is convenient in many ways. You can just search for a topic and all related articles will appear. It will even link you to further readings.

Examples of foreign online newspaper include:http://www.nytimes.com/ - The New York Times, http://www.washingtonpost.com/ - The Washington Post, and http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/ - China Daily and www.inquirer.net – The Philippine Daily Inquirer, www.philstar.com – The Philippine Star, and www.mb.com.ph – The Manila Bulletin for local.

MIKE ARROYO and HIS CONTROVERSIES, GUILTY OR NOT?

This blog entry may be different from my two previous posts. We were asked to make a stand on the controversies that the first gentleman Mike Arroyo has been and is still facing, allegations on jueteng, corruption and taking advantage of his wife, GMA’s position in particular. To answer if he is guilty or not, is a tough one, especially if the person involved have sued an incredible number of journalists for libel.

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Let me start with this:

IF THERE IS NO FIRE, THERE IS NO SMOKE, a Filipino proverb often associated to controversies being denied especially in showbiz and politics.

I may not be updated on politics but I do believe in this saying. There would be no controversies if there really is nothing to discuss about. Sometimes, people tend to exaggerate what they know but very few can generate stories out of thin air. There is a root for all these.

Many have been written and reported but of course not one is proven. Mike Arroyo is a lawyer. He sure knows his way out.

Expected to be a moral citizen, he will not pledge of being guilty, but claiming that he is innocent would not help. My suggestion is to defend rather than deny.

He claims to be a private citizen. And he knows his rights as one. But by simply holding the title as the First Gentleman makes him a public figure. He owes the Filipino people an explanation.