By Samira Gutoc (14-Jan-2010)

IT IS not funny when you make fun of people. We take serious concern at the January 7 column of Ramon Tulfo which stereotypes Muslim cultural communities and women.

Tulfo wrote in his last column, “Because the Muslims of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi permit marriages with other tribes and even Christians, whereas Maguindanaoans and Maranaws are ‘closed’ societies or xenophobic. Xenophobia or hatred for strangers is the reason most Maranaws and Maguindanaoans marry within the family or tribe.”

Muslim women’s groups, such as colleagues in the Philippine Muslim Women Council, feel insulted and degraded.

Tulfo further stated: “I remember a friend telling me he was sent by his multinational company in Jakarta for a conference. The night after the conference my friend, a playboy, was on the prowl for beautiful women in the city. He couldn’t find any, he said. My friend, a Mindanaoan, said the women looked like those from Marawi and Shariff Aguak. Before you guys get mad at me, it was my friend talking, not me.”

Opinion-makers who publicize their thoughts in a million printed copies of the country’s top publication cannot shield themselves from the impact of what they say and write. They should not generalize. They should not belittle sensitivities. International norms of decency in journalism have already guaranteed the respect accorded to minorities who cannot have access to the powerful institutions that may perpetuate misconceptions, stereotypes and labels.

Columnists despite their right to opinion-making should take note of the 11-paragraph Philippine Journalist’s Code of Ethics which states, in part: “I shall not, in any manner, ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, and political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.”

A research study called “Pride and Prejudice in News Media” for the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication set forth the following proposals to media organizations: Media ownership also needs to be democratized to facilitate access and participation even by marginalized groups and sectors. Community media should be encouraged and supported.

Programming should be made more interactive or two-way rather than Manila-centric, to facilitate exchange of perspectives, promote cultural understanding and appreciation and remove stereotyping.

Continuing education of journalists on Muslim (as well as on other cultural communities) culture and religion must be conducted.

This may be organized by media companies themselves (through in-house seminars), industry associations (PPI and KBP), media NGOs and academic/training institutions. Non-government organizations may take the initiative in offering “editorial clinics” on Muslim coverage by arranging visits to editorial offices of print and broadcast media companies.
Similarly, media companies owned and controlled by Muslims (albeit they are few) may organize lessons on the Christian faith.

Media companies should give Muslim journalism and communication graduates the opportunity to work as reporters, columnists, editors, among others. This should not be undertaken as “tokenism” but recognition of competencies and qualifications.

Media accentuating “positive” stories on Muslims (or Mindanao) cannot be left to chance given existing traditional (western) news values. Media companies should adopt the policy of allotting “positive” stories, e.g. community initiatives to pursue peace and development, outstanding Muslims in various professions or vocations and scientific and technological innovations, among many possibilities.