Content is Primordial Amid Advanced Technologies: Philippine Communications Secretary

Philippine Communications Secretary  Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar  said  broadcasters adapting  to new technologies should keep in mind that  what is important is “ the story, the narrative, the content of the report that we write and speak”.

“Let me repeat: content is primordial — be it for news or for entertainment”, Secretary Andanar told participants of the 16th Asia Media Summit held in Cambodia.

In his presentation during the plenary session on “How We can Adapt to the Digital Revolution”,  the Information Secretary said content for news is based on the truth, on facts that are verified, on data that is confirmed.

He added that entertainment, on the other hand, is based on the creativity of the imagination.

“Drama, comedy, or a mixture of both, revolve around every conceivable facet of life. Nonetheless, a moral ground must be at its base, as a foundation of values, either traditional or contemporary”,  he pointed out. 

Mr Andanar also stressed that technologies may influence how one lives, works and communicates, but it is still the human person that can make a difference in his life.

 “ New technologies will always be advancing, well beyond our capabilities to decipher, the increased complex operations of the zeros and the ones in our computers. The state-of-the-art instruments we use for communication and information dissemination may be transforming the manner of transmittal, but it is only you and I, all of us, who can undertake the transformation of our lives”, he said.

He called on broadcasters  who may be apprehensive about  the magnitude of the scientific progress to be firm and use the  power of their individual and collective minds to control the instruments  they deploy to achieve the ideals of peace and understanding, among the nations of our region and the world.