Super Typhoon Rolly uncovers the ‘information gap’ left by ABS-CBN shutdown

MANILA, Philippines – When Super Typhoon Rolly, reported as the world’s strongest storm so far this year, devastated several provinces in the Philippines on Sunday, it became clear how important information dissemination is, whether in force. or on the track of the storm or its impact on the areas it hit as shown in photos or videos.

On social media, several netizens pointed out how ABS-CBN with its wide reach could have been helpful in spreading important information during the typhoon. But the media giant has been closed for nearly four months.

One Juliet Ramos said that Rolly showed the importance of the regional ABS-CBN networks reaching remote areas, particularly in provinces far from Metro Manila.

“Our compatriots now need more, especially those who have been hit by [B]brain [R]Alone and those who live in remote areas is the ABS-CBN REGIONAL NETWORK GROUP, ”he said on Twitter.

[It’s at a time like this when our countrymen, especially those hit by Typhoon Rolly and those in remote areas, need the ABS-CBN Regional Network Group.]

Our compatriots now need the ABS-CBN REGIONAL NETWORK GROUP, especially those who were hit by Typhoon Rolly and those who live in remote areas. 🙏 @ABSCBNNews @ABSCBN #RollyPH

– Julietramos (@ Juliet83597207) November 1, 2020

Another netizen made a similar comment.

“By not talking about the ABS-CBN Regional Network groups, it used to be our source of numbers on these kinds of calamities. I hope the government realizes what they have done, ”said a netizen by the name of @goofyhides.

[The closure of the ABS-CBN Regional Network groups was a huge loss, it used to be our source in this type of calamities. I hope government realized what they’ve done.]

Danilo Arao, associate professor in the journalism department at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, said the ABS-CBN shutdown exposed “information gaps” in calamities like Super Typhoon Rolly, considering the media giant to be one of the teams with the widest scope.

“In selected areas in Quezón and Catanduanes, well there are – well, I understand that there are certain areas there where only ABS-CBN can be received before the network closes. So what will happen to these areas there? “Arao told INQUIRER.net.

Arao said that while there are other media platforms that also had their own coverage of the typhoon, “during disasters, there can’t be too much coverage of the unfolding disasters.”

In addition, Arao said that while the information was not limited to the television platform, it is possible that other means of information dissemination, such as the web or radio, are also not accessible from remote areas, particularly due to signal problems.

“So right now, if you were to monitor conversations on social media, particularly Twitter, there is anecdotal evidence that there are ordinary citizens who are very frustrated by what is happening because, on the one hand, they can only access the Internet in a intermittent. connection and they can’t really get the good TV reception from other media organizations, ”he said.

Lack of cultural context

Arao also noted the importance of ABS-CBN regional networks, which could provide a better context for the information being disseminated.

“When it comes to proximity, it is very important. But, of course, it is the cultural context that would be key to the effectiveness of a regional network that reports on what is happening in a particular area, ”said Arao.

“So this is not just the issue of the local language being used, which would make the information package easier to identify, more digestible and more understandable to the wider community there,” he added.

In August, ABS-CBN announced that it would also disconnect 12 local shows from “TV Patrol” following the denial of the network’s offer for a 25-year franchise in the House of Representatives.

ABS-CBN Regional has been producing local editions of “TV Patrol” to be broadcast on the network’s 21 regional stations for more than three decades, serving viewers in the provinces with local and national news presented in their own dialects.

These regional networks are located in Northern Luzon, Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao, among others.

“Of course, the other factor would be cultural proximity in the sense that you are able to know the context in a particular area – the fact that little things that you are able to correctly pronounce the names of certain streets, certain people so the information dissemination is much faster, ”said Arao.

“Also, data collection would be more efficient because you know the people to talk to and journalists don’t have to work very hard to know certain contact numbers or certain people just to be contacted,” he added.

It has been almost four months since 70 members of the House Legislative Franchise Committee voted against granting ABS-CBN a new franchise, thus shutting down the network.

While the media giant continues its news and business operations, they are mostly streamed online, which can be inaccessible to those in remote areas.

[atm]

Read next