The girls from Saint Louis

On a Thursday afternoon they came, three girls from Saint Louis University in Baguio City, for research work on their thesis of graduating communications students, “on the fidelity of the use of language affecting journalistic writing.”

The tres Marias Genie Lou, Ana Loreta and Sharmyne were part of a larger group guided by their thesis adviser to interview editors in Manila-based newspapers. They took the bus in the morning, and were to return to Baguio later in the day with the interviews safely wrapped up and hopefully, ready for transcription into their research project.

The interview was designed for 45 minutes but we only talked for 20-25 minutes, so we might have missed some points though a fairly good deal of subjects was covered. Here then are their draft questions again and my slightly expounded answers just for the record, that they may use as counterpoint to the recorded material, to double check or strike out for purposes of clarification or lessening obfuscation.

Are you aware of the errors committed by journalists? What necessary actions do you take to correct these errors?

The work is a daily grind in which we always learn something new. If you look at the raw copy of a neophyte reporter you can get lost in the woods of dangling modifiers, subject verb disagreement, confused gender of possessive pronouns. In a wrap-up different reports are collated to come up with a single cohesive news story, which role is the desk editor’s. We advise reporters to read their edited copy in the next day’s issue so that they can avoid repeating the same mistakes. There are fairly regular editorial powwows and bull sessions to ferret out lapses at the desk, because sometimes even editors need editing.

Does your office receive complaints about grammatical errors? How do you address these complaints?

What a difference a word or missing letter makes. Sometimes this can change the complexion of a story. There have been threats of libel, other times we have sought wise counsel and issued an erratum or apology, since nobody is perfect. There will always be grammar police who will correct mistakes and other misdemeanors in the published paper. But I take heart in what National Artist Cirilo Bautista once said, himself an alumnus of Saint Louis, that there is no such thing as grammatical error, only ideological comprehension. Not to wiggle out of our errors, but in the world of semiotics everything has a subtext.

Do you think these errors would affect the impression of your readers and the credibility of your newspaper?

Of course. How many times have you discontinued reading a news story if there was a stupid mistake or typo right in the first paragraph? That is why extra care is made in writing the lead, not only to catch but also hold the reader’s attention. Truth should prevail but in a newspaper you find out that there are at times different sides to the same story, much like that Japanese short story “Rashomon.” The best you can do is present the facts as they are with minimum embellishments — clarity, conciseness, with hugot turn of phrase without sounding pretentious. Subtlety and restraint are always plusses.

What could be the reasons why writers commit these errors?

Carelessness, deadline pressure, failure to double check sources or verify reports. Over reliance on the Internet which though indispensable, has been responsible for many a kuryente or bum steer of a news story. Sometimes plain laziness or lack of initiative, which all boils down to attitude and the editor must cover the bases or crack the whip. Then there are the public relations persons and spin doctors lurking in the bushes to put in a good if not entirely accurate word for their client or just get their client’s name in the paper. You’ll be amazed at the vanity. Sorry but that’s the reality you have to deal with. Key though is still the absence of malice, ’yung hindi nananadya.

Is it reasonable for a journalist to sacrifice the standard grammar usage in exchange of his style? Do you allow freedom in writing without considering the proper use of the language?

At the news desk standards are definitely old school, so that it is best to learn the basic rules of grammar before we are allowed to experiment, if ever. Anyway there is always the Opinion or Lifestyle page, and eventually a writer will discover his writing style within the parameters of a tried and tested journalistic stylebook. Conservative yes, but why play around with something that isn’t broke? The originality of language is best maintained in direct quotes, but when too runaround it is better to paraphrase to save everyone’s time and sanity.

What qualifications do you set for your writers?

That’s more human resources turf but clarity in language is a must. Academic degrees not so much, just ask the syndicate under the LRT Carriedo station. Resourcefulness, industry, plain love of language, a nose for a good story. And just as important as writing, if not more so, is reading. How would we have started to write in the first place without being smitten with the written word?

Is it advisable that journalists undergo or take comprehensive English training or workshops from professionals?

It would help undoubtedly. That’s why a number of newspapers have spawned their adjunct journalism schools or lecture seminars. Then there’s the stylebook for consistency. But a journalist will in the long run find her own way. Less to do with serendipity than as you mentioned, felicity in craft, as well faith in getting your message across to the reader. While news is current, language too is ever evolving.