THOUGHT: Everyone Can Report, but not Everything is News

This September 28, we celebrate World News Day, which celebrates the feats of informing the masses through newsmaking and storytelling through news media. From the early days of independent print like La Solidaridad, which sought to inform Spaniards about the plight of Filipinos under colonial rule, to today’s digital media organizations like Kuhaku Media, which bring niche communities such as cosplay to wider audiences, news has always been central to how we understand the world, and even our passions.

Before I became Editor-in-Chief of my organization, I never imagined myself writing entertainment articles. In fact, I used to ask: “Who even reads that kind of content? Why bother?” But everything changed when I began my BA Communication degree in 2023. I realized that entertainment journalism is not “lesser” journalism but an essential one.

We live in a time when we are flooded with reports on politics, the economy, crime, and disaster. With so much negativity, people seek balance, like a story that uplifts, distracts us, or simply speaks to our interests. That’s where entertainment journalism comes in, whether it’s showbiz, food, travel, art, or even cosplay. These may not shake our history and our policies on how we live, but they shape how we find joy and meaning amid the noise of life.

In 2024, I conducted independent interviews about Kuhaku Media’s role in the local cosplay industry. What stood out was how people saw it us unique compared to other outlets who focus on photography and videography. That unique proposition, is what makes us special.

My colleague and friend Red Mendoza once pointed out that some groups simply label themselves as “media” to gain free access to conventions.

So with media organization and independent acts popping up in the industry as part of the media circle for conventions, it raises the question: "what makes someone a reporter?"

The truth is, everyone can be a storyteller. Anyone can post an update about what happened, who was involved, when and where it took place, and even why. In fact, many community rants, especially in groups like Cosplay Market PH follow the basic “five Ws and one H” of reporting. Yet this doesn’t make them newsworthy. Complaints about cheating, seller issues, or personal misconduct are often better resolved privately, not broadcast as “news.”

Still, some stories that begin as rants can evolve into legitimate news. One example is the case of Cavite politician Kiko Barzaga, whose photos with cosplayers were initially shared as a casual rant, but later became part of an ethics complaint. Another was Roaming Historyador’s exclusive on Aniporium, which began as disaapointed customers citing frustrations which turned into a story of crime and misorganization of the management.

These examples show a fine line between storytelling and reporting. Vloggers, for instance, may capture moments with unique visuals and grounded perspective, but without context or verification, their stories risk misleading audiences. Journalists, on the other hand, take raw stories, even messy ones, and frame them with accuracy, balance, and accountability.

That’s why I believe that everyone can be a storyteller, but not everyone can be a reporter. In the cosplay community and beyond, what matters is not just that stories are told, but that they are told responsibly, truthfully. Kuhaku Media may not be perfect in its reporting, but our goal is to make you informed truthfully.

To conclude, you have the power to speak independently as you have unique stories you can tell us. Because, each one of us has a blank to fill. (Opinions are independently written by the authors, they do not speak for the organization's voice)