Explain, not inflame

I was listening intently to the homily of Archbishop Albert Uy before the awarding ceremony of the 2nd Cebu Metropolitan-Catholic Mass Media Awards. He was talking about how communication can be a double-edged sword and it would be up to the communicator on how to use the tool well. In times when there is contentious content, it is better to explain than to inflame. He referred to potential content that could lead to a mishap instead of actually helping each other out.

To me, that is the best takeaway of that night, aside from the awards that most of us took home as well. We live in a time when communication spreads faster than any other domesticated four-legged animal, which could be a hit and miss. As a person who is online for work, I have received backlash left and right by individuals whom I may have known or not. It becomes easy to say something even without background or context. Everyone is an expert. To honor individuals who are legitimately doing their best to give the correct information to the people is a sign that they are needed more than ever in this society.

I was fortunate to be among those honored that night. Winning an award is always something to be grateful for, but more than the recognition, it made me think about the responsibility that comes with the work. Behind every story is a person who trusted us enough to tell their story. Behind every piece of information is a public that deserves accuracy, context, and fairness. The award is not just a reminder of what we have done, but also of what we are expected to continue doing.

Experience is the best teacher. We celebrated World Teachers’ Day yesterday and I'd like to meld these two thoughts on using communication well alongside learning from what we are going through. We feel like we are experts in the fields that we are in because of the easy access to information. The basics are often overlooked and relationships are at the brink of losing their foundation. A simple click and tap may just change one's life overnight.

Teaching has also reminded me that knowing something is not the same as knowing how to communicate it. In the classroom, I see students learning to tell stories, ask questions and make sense of information. I also see how important it is to teach them that communication is not merely about being heard. It is about understanding the weight of what we say and how it may affect others.

Perhaps that is why journalism and teaching have more in common than we realize. Both require patience, humility, and the willingness to keep learning, even when we think we already know enough. At the end of the day, it is about responsibility. Communicators in whatever field are given a big responsibility. Whether we are journalists, teachers, students, or people with a platform, we have a choice: to explain or to inflame. I hope we continue choosing the former.