ABSCBN'S INSIDER

I saw the rerun of the May 12th episode of ABS-CBN's news show INSIDER at the ANC just few hours ago by chance. The program aired the beheading of an American hostage by his Islamic terrorist captors at the introductory/headline segment.

My post has nothing to do with the events in the US or in Iraq, although I feel the greatest symphaties to this yet another victim of Islamic extremism. The extremism I'm outraged about, however, is that program's decision to air the beheading of the hostage, albeit that portion was graphically enhanced to reduce the gruesome scene.

This despicable act strongly confirms my suspicions that Insider is another one of ABS-CBN's tabloid shows on the air, peddling sensationalized news that seeks tasteless sensationalism over dispassionate, disinterested journalism. Months ago, after I witnessed how these people revelled at the humiliation of the clergy at the scandals brought about my Yalung and Bacani, I came to believe the show had an agenda, so I simply avoided watching the program, along with TV Patrol which seems to embody to sensational worhtless news as well.

I resolved to get my dose of the local news from the ABS-CBN NEWS CHANNEL, although owned by the same company, the format was more formal than that displayed in the mother station. My TV was tuned into ANC when the rerun of Insider came. I was too busy fixing my blog to change the channel so there, it came that I saw how Insider managed to perform yet another act of senseless depravity, making it as foul as any tabloid sold on the sidewalks of Manila.

I haven't seen Insider for a long period. So I'm not aware of how many people they have degraded and humiliated for the sake of ratings over the months. But the airing of the beheading is simply one of the many grievous offenses of ABS-CBN.