NEWs VALUE: ACCOMMODATIVE AND CONFRONTATIVE COMMUNICATION IN TELEVISION NEWS BROADCASTING DURING CRISIS REPORTING MICHELLYN ANTONETTE ELUM MARASIGAN JIM RYAN MANALANG YAP Submitted to the COLLEGE OF MASS COMMUNICATION University of the Philippines Diliman In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH April 2011 NEWs VALUE: ACCOMMODATIVE AND CONFRONTATIVE COMMUNICATION IN TELEVISION NEWS BROADCASTING DURING CRISIS REPORTING by MICHELLYN ANTONETTE ELUM MARASIGAN JIM RYAN MANALANG YAP has been accepted for the degree of BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH by Professor Jose R. Lacson, Jr. and approved for the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication by Professor Roland B. Tolentino Dean, College of Mass Communication BIOGRAPHICAL DATA PERSONAL DATA Name Michellyn Antonette E. Marasigan Permanent Address #15 Sunstone Street, Northview 1, Batasan Hills, Quezon City Date & Place of Birth 08 January 1988, Quezon City E-mail address [email protected] EDUCATION Secondary Level School of the Holy Spirit, BF Homes Quezon City Primary Level School of the Holy Spirit, BF Homes Quezon City ORGANIZATIONS Member, UP Communication Research Society President, UP PR+Advertising Society WORK EXPERIENCE Project Head, Circuit Fashion Show Event Intern, Campaigns & Grey, 2010 Marketing Member, UP College of Mass Communication – Student Council, SY 2010-2011 Project Head, Launch Event of MM Alliance of Communication Students, 2011 ACHIEVEMENTS: University and College Scholar (IS & IIS AY 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011) BIOGRAPHICAL DATA PERSONAL DATA Name Jim Ryan M. Yap Permanent Address # 037 Tawiran, Obando, Bulacan Date & Place of Birth 05 January 1989, Bulacan E-mail address [email protected] EDUCATION Secondary Level Academic Excellence Awardee, Colegio de San Pascual Baylon, Obando, Bulacan Primary Level Academic Excellence Awardee, Colegio de San Pascual Baylon Obando, Bulacan ORGANIZATIONS Member, UP Communication Research Society Member, UP Broadcaster‟s Guild WORK EXPERIENCE Intern, Sycip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. (SGV&Co.), Marketing and Communication Department, 2010 Field Interviewer, Political Research Study, Taguig City, Andres G. Sevilla, 2009 Volunteer Registration Assistant, CMC, UP Diliman, (AY 2009-2010) ACHIEVEMENTS: University Scholar (IS AY 2007-2008-IIS AY 2009-2010- IS AY 2010-2011) College Scholar (IIS AY 2007-2008-IS AY 2008-2009-IIS AY 2008-2009-IS AY 2009-2010) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to distinguish the following persons for their precious and valuable contributions to this study. We would like to first and foremost thank our thesis adviser, Prof. Jose R. Lacson Jr., for he had not just shared his knowledge, time, and care in guiding us in thesis- making, but also for the laughs and encouragement he had given us. His comments and suggestions strengthened and improved this study. We would also like to be grateful the Marasigan and the Yap family who have always been supportive and loving throughout the entire undertaking of this study. Our parents and siblings have contributed to how we are at present. So they have a take part in whatever we accomplish in life. Also, we would like to show appreciation to our Communication Research block, “the Bogarditos,” and all our friends for making our entire college life more memorable and enjoyable. We also wish to express gratitude to all those who participated in this, the interviewees and the FGD discussants. They believed in the significance of this research, and their inputs have been important in our pursuit to understand the topic better. Finally, we would like to praise and thank God for His Omnipresence in our lives and for giving us the opportunity to get to know and form relationships with these individuals. DEDICATION To God and all our loved ones For continuously supporting us in all of life‟s endeavors ABSTRACT Marasigan, M.A.E., Yap, J.R.M. (2011). NEWs VALUE: Accommodative and confrontative communication in television news broadcasting during crisis reporting, Unpublished UndergraduateThesis, College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines, Diliman. This study examines the different yet intertwining factors that affect the value usage of television news broadcasting in the Philippines. Employing the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) of Coombs (1995), Functionalist theory of McQuail (2005), Political-Economic Media Theory, Agenda-Setting Theory, and incorporated the Filipino behavioral patterns of Virgilio Enriquez (1989). This study explores the manifestations of the accommodative and confrontative values in crisis news reporting which happened in the last five years (2005-2010). The primary concern is to identify and compare the accommodative and confrontative values in television news programs in crisis situations based on journalists‟/ reporters‟ practices, news officials‟ practices, and audiences‟ perception, as well as other factors that influence the manifestation of these values. To find out the usage and prevalence of these values in different types of crises, this study employed interviews, focus group discussions, and textual analysis of videos. The study concludes that the confrontative way of communication was practiced more often than the accommodative way. This took place while gathering and covering crisis news stories. Furthermore, the accommodative way of communication was used on a more personal level such as dealing with fellow reporters, sources and crew members. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page i Approval Page ii Biographical Data iii Acknowledgments v Dedication vi Abstract vii Table of Contents viii I. INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study 1 B. Statement of the Research Problem and Objectives 5 C. Rationale and Significance of the Study 7 II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE A. State of Media in the Philippines 8 B. Power of the press 13 C. Societal functions of news programs 14 D. Forces that affect mass media 16 E. Issues faced by television news 18 F. Why television? 19 G. Accommodative and Confrontative studies in the Philippines 20 H. Risk management in mass media 29 I. Crisis defined 31 J. Crisis reporting 31 ix K. Synthesis 36 III. STUDY FRAMEWORK A. Theoretical Framework 38 B. Conceptual Framework 42 C. Operational Framework 46 D. Definitions of terms 49 IV. METHODOLOGY A. Research Design 51 B. Research Method 52 C. Research Instruments 52 D. Concepts and indicators 53 E. Unit of analysis and sampling 54 F. Data gathering/generation and construction 55 G. Data Analysis 56 H. The Researchers 56 V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS A. Value Identification 59 B. Value Application in crisis reporting 63 C. Value Resemblance and Disparity 75 D. Value Pervasiveness in different types of crisis (2005-2010) 81 E. Value Usage in internal and external contention 93 F. Value Functionalism 104 G. Synthesis 116 x VI. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS A. Summary of findings 122 B. Conclusion of the study 128 VII. IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS A. Theoretical 130 B. Methodological 132 C. Practical 135 BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDICES A. Interview Guide for Journalists/Reporters and News officials B. Focus Group Discussion guide for College students, Young-professionals, and home-based adults C. Textual Analysis guide for videos D. Summary Matrix of Interviews and FGD