REPLEKSYON NG LUGAW: Hang the DJ: On "Masa" Oriented FM Radio Talk Shows
A popular local FM radio programming staple is the interactive talk-based format wherein listeners are encouraged to turn to whoever is hosting at the moment for advice on basically just about anything (even if romance is usually a prime topic in most shows of the sort) and while not necessarily a bad thing at all, one can’t help but wonder sometimes if most of the personalities being asked to host these radio programs are attuned to the basic needs of listeners seeking their supposedly well-intentioned advice or are merely in it for the ratings/profit/celebrity status. Take for instance this post from someone who rode a jeep on the way to work that was tuned in to an FM radio station whose target listenership often comes from the lower class to lower middle class sectors (or C and D markets if you will): see 2nd picture below!
One could just very easily conjecture that whoever were on air (above instance having two DJs onboard) that day didn’t mean to offend in any way but that would be simply shrugging off the fact that suicide is one of those things that anyone in his/her right mind should NEVER EVER make fun of, let alone trivialize.
As someone who also occasionally happens to be prone to suicidal thoughts (not even kidding at all, it’s an experience no one should ever have to go through in an ideal world) and yet had personally tried to the best of my ability to help two people - one a friend from the spoken word scene and the other a metalcore vocalist I’ve seen perform before at a gig - in the midst of their respective suicide attempts just this year, I can’t help but get really pissed off by those two radio personalities who took it on air to criticize the emotional and mental state of a person they barely even know instead of actually offering some much-needed beneficial advice. I mean, whatever happened to basic human decency and sensitivity towards the needs and feelings of others? Some might argue that “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me” but try being in a suicidal person’s shoes and let’s see if that quote would still hold true.
Another instance of insensitivity becoming the unfortunate new norm within the local FM radio landscape is a certain personality in another C-D market radio station who made fun of non-Tagalog speakers on air. A friend had posted about it and I hope he won't mind if I share the entirety of his post below:
--- This so-called radio DJ and member of the local academe known as (name of radio personality withheld) absolutely should have no business being in the media. As much as he's disgusting, it's standard public transport listening fare, especially in my two-hour bus ride home.
Can't stand him insulting two English speakers and overtalking to them in a condescending manner, especially one Fil-Am lady who he even talks to in Tagalog to everyone's chagrin, incluidng this:
DJ: You know what 'tanga' is? Lady Fil-Am: What? DJ: It's YOU! (Insert the usual masa radio stations' chipmunk laugh) DJ's guest from EZ Rock to lady Fil-Am: You're beautiful! ---
If that and the previous instance are those radio personalities’ idea of comedy, then they’re ultimately missing the mark by resorting to cheap insults. If the intention was to shock, then they’re doing it completely wrong. What makes it worse in my opinion is that aside from having a nationwide reach that very much affects even those living in faraway provinces where television can be really hard to come by, the KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas) is more than likely to turn a blind eye to incidents such as those mentioned above unless a major overhaul of all currently “masa”-oriented FM radio stations be done as soon as possible by completely eliminating all forms of cheap, shallow entertainment that dumbs the masses down instead of actually turning them into well-informed and educated citizens. Otherwise, "masa"-oriented FM radio stations are bound to meet their own eventual demise anytime soon.–
