“Walang lalabas” can be interpreted in different ways. This is one honest interpretation: GSIS wanted Cheche’s show to only air the reason behind GSIS’s refusal to talk about the issue involving the benefits of schoolteachers.. And that’s what Cheche did. So for Cheche, “walang lalabas” meant not airing the portion about GSIS’s side pertaining to the teachers’ benefits. Similarly, “off the record,” can have different interpretations. The fact that the pr woman continued to talk, despite having been reminded by Cheche that their phone conversation was being recorded, can mean that the talk was (well literally) on record. What was clearly off record was the pr woman’s explanation of the GSIS position, which Cheche honored. But there was agreement, in fact the proposal came from GSIS, to air GSIS’s statement why it doesn’t want to air its position.

Given that what happened could have different honest interpretations, it would likewise be unfair to judge Cheche for violating ethical standards.

At any rate, the bigger issue here is that however we interpret the events, clearly GSIS had a far more insidious agenda. And you put it well: “especially that of being willingly used as a tool of the administration to silence its critics.”

Best,

Men

but kidding aside, it hurts so much that che-che would stoop that low just to get a scoop and it hurt even more reading her explanation. so difficult to reconcile that a journalist who worked so hard to make a name could make a serious mistake…. plus yung explanation ni che-che, parang very disrespectful naman masyado sa intelligence ng kanyang expected readers.. you can always make a case from unnamed sources. bakit naman si deep throat who remained a well kept secret.

i beg to disagree that there was nothing off the record about the interview. the content of the conversation does not determine whether it’s off the record, and neither does anyone else’s interpretation or personal opinion of it. the pr lady could have said nothing more than what was previously written or she could have blown the whistle on everyone and everything, but if she said it was off the record– hindi lalabas, how much clearer did she have to be — it’s off the record. no ifs or but about it. that’s journalistic ethics as i know it.

and yes, cheche is not being paid by abs-cbn. in fact she pays abs-cbn to air probe (correct me if i’m wrong). which relationship indeed does not mean that cheche has anything to do with the gsis experience of biased reporting by lopez-owned media entities. just the same, the relationship identifies her with abs-cbn, and it’s perfectly understandable that gsis would be wary.

this is not to justify gsis’ lack of transparency and other failings, especially that of being willingly used as a tool of the administration to silence its critics. but there are ways of skinning a cat, a buwaya? without breaching journalistic ethics.

but here is a tip that might prove helpful next time you get the itch to that stunt again. call Ricky Lo. he gives the juiciest news from tinseltown yet he protects and guards his sources well. he might be able to give you the low-downs. or, better yet, get some tips from the researchers of The Buzz, Showbiz News Ngayon or other showbiz oriented shows in abs-cbn, ikaw din, matutunan mo pang magsabi ng EXCLUSIVE ng walang kakurap-kurap.

but seriously, I am very disappointed. this is not something that I expect from a che-che lazaro….

I don’t think Cheche violated any ethics in journalism. She reminded the GSIS pr lady that she was recording the phone conversation. Why did the pr lady continue the phone conversation with Cheche despite Cheche’s reminder in unequivocal terms that she was recording the interview? Clearly, pr lady consented to the interview and knew that the interview was being recorded. There was nothing off the record in that interview. Cheche could have aired other parts of the interview. But precisely because the ethics are deeply engrained in her, Cheche only released what GSIS wanted to be aired. The pr lady’s right of privacy was never violated. To repeat, she freely talked to Cheche; she knew that she was being recorded; and her request that the GSIS position be aired was granted, nothing more, nothing less.

Incidentally, Cheche is not being paid by ABS CBN. Probe has a block-time program. Probe moved from GMA 7 to ABS-CBN. And the reason? Story from insiders: Pressure from above, arising from a Probe episode on PAGCOR, which authorities didn’t like. GMA 7 would obviously publicly deny this.

Incidentally, I wrote a column on Cheche’s harassment for BusinessWorld’s Yellow Pad. The link to BusinessWorld is not freely accessible. So please visit the AER site:
http://www.aer.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=857&Itemid=63

Best,

Men

“No. If you air my refusal, that is a violation of my privacy.”

What a dumbkopf.

The comment of Mrs. Gingrich about Hillary is a comment. This is not even a comment; it is a mere refusal.

the recorded conversation (that was broadcast) supported the letter’s arguments of why they didn’t want to be interviewed. (they were burned, etc)… that conversation was basically a verbal reiteration of the letter. nothing more.

right?

it didn’t bring out any additional information. it didn’t discuss the premium policy. etc…

is this a violation of ethics?