By LHEALYN VICTORIA
Bulatlat.com

Every time people ask me why I chose to major in Journalism, I just smile and not bother to explain, not because I’m being a snob, but because I didn’t know what to say then. I initially chose this course, not because I wanted to help enlighten society, but because I just wanted to avenge my broken pride. It was such a lame reason to choose a serious career, that was why I was not very vocal about it.

Way back in high school, when I was still a freshman, I wanted to learn how authors string their thoughts and ideas and create something so beautiful it leaves an everlasting mark on their readers. The only writing organization in my school was the school paper, but when I inquired, I was told that “only students from the first section are allowed to join.” That was how it all began. I thought to myself, one day I’ll be able to write for a newspaper and those people will regret that they didn’t accept me just because I was not among the “cream of the crop.”

When I reached college, our professors who were also reporters, would always tell us that journalism is a very complicated career. It doesn’t pay, they would say. But they always have that mischievous smile on their faces as if they’re trying to tell us something. And when they would dwell on their stories of coverage during class, the pride in their voices was obvious. That got me curious: what is with their job that makes them smile like that? What makes them so proud? That was when I became very serious about my chosen course.

Oh, I’m very aware of the complications of my chosen path. A journalist could get killed if she pokes her nose too much in a controversy. A journalist could die just because he wanted to unveil the truth and tell it the people. According to the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, 147 journalists were killed while on duty since 1986, and up to now and there is zero conviction of the master minds.

Then there’s libel. Under Philippine laws, libel is a criminal offense. A journalist could end up in jail for his article. The United Nations says the Philippine libel law is incompatible with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of which Philippines is a signatory. For the UN, the Philippines should decriminalize libel. But instead, the Cybercrime law which strengthens and expands the libel law, was enacted. With the old law, a journalist found guilty of libel could get three to six years in prison. With the Cybercrime law, the punishment is now six up to twelve years in prison.

A speaker at a seminar on the libel offense in the cybercrime law said that even though an article is not malicious, it may still be considered libelous if someone didn’t like the article. That’s when I started questioning myself, “What have I gotten myself into?”

Maybe if I just peacefully accepted that rejection in high school, if I wasn’t so bitter, then maybe I won’t have to worry about getting killed or ending up in prison. That was when I started having doubts about my future. I almost wanted to shift course, but then something happened that totally changed my disposition.

One of my professors, who owned a community newspaper based in Bulacan, used my article as the banner story. The moment I learned about it, I felt like I was on Cloud Nine. My eyes were glued on the byline – my byline! I couldn’t wipe the stupid smile on my face. In short, I may have looked stupid but I was so proud of myself.

That was when I had a clue on what my professors were feeling when they tell us about their articles. That’s what motivated me to keep going despite the complications and difficulties that I might soon face.