If you have financial problems, you can still enroll in an MA degree program of your choice at UP CMC. The tuition is relatively cheap, only P600 per unit.

Ateneo and La Salle also have good graduate programs in journalism and communication, respectively. These two universities have scholarship programs available for “financially challenged” people like you and me. In case you don’t know, I finished my MA at La Salle on a scholarship, though my graduate major is Philippine Studies, not Journalism.

P.S.
How I wish I would be able to take up Masters in Media Studies, I am really interested about the social aspect of media. That’s the reason I blog, it could be my “intellectual outlet” ( slight lang naman ) But the reality of it, I couldn’t do it due to time and financial reasons. Don’t mind me, I’m just thinking aloud here

My column article does not denounce ALL forms of blog monetization, but only those that involve deception. As an experienced blogger, you know what I am referring to: Advertising that can be easily customized to give an illusion that it is part of media content, particularly blog posts and static pages.

You wrote: “I would like to say that [there] are also writers who contribute and create meaning to the blogosphere. It somewhat creates `exclusivity’ among `responsible’ bloggers (as what he is imposing) vs the “irresponsible” bloggers. Does this mean that there is a distinction being made? What makes a blogger `responsible’? If there is such thing, what are the criteria on being `responsible’?”

Mine is not an imposition but more of a suggestion. Responsibility is important as the blogosphere is part of the public domain. We have different reasons for blogging, in the same way that we all have our own agenda in writing. The reasons can range from the shallow to the serious, from the personal to the political. But there are standards that must be observed in the writing and production of media content.

As regards what makes for “responsible blogging,” I wrote about it in an old Pinoy Weekly column article titled “Gusto mo bang mag-blog?” but a more detailed discussion may be found in the paper I delivered at WordCamp 2008 titled “Blogging and Journalism in the Philippines: Journalistic Writing for the People.”

In addition, you wrote: “We cannot say that the intention of the blogger would reflect in what he/she writes. In this scenario, the blogger can transform his/her identity without the readers knowing it. The identity of the blogger is not attached to the article he/she wrote. As for the readers, they have their own mind as to how they will interpret the things we write.”

Whether it’s journalistic or creative writing (or blogging for that matter), your output is a reflection of who you are. Tolkien’s discourse on middle earth is partly due to his experience as a soldier. Hemingway’s novels reflect his experience talking to different kinds of people. Even a recluse like Salinger draws widely from he had been through. While we acknowledge that there are bloggers who prefer to be anonymous, their writings reflect either their actual or desired goals in life. Living in a fantasy world, after all, has material basis as the choice of fantasy is normally inversely proportional to one’s interpretation of the “real.”

In this context, we can draw lessons from journalism’s role in shaping public opinion by providing relevant information. The latter, as you correctly stated, may not be political or intellectual. Bloggers, however, should be conscious about the impact of their posts on readers.

Even if we have very discerning and intelligent readers, we should always strive for presenting what I refer to as the “literal truth” so that there is little or no room for misinterpretation. There is nothing wrong with being direct in our message, a main characteristic of quality and responsible writing.

In any case, it is good to know that there are bloggers like you who maintain independence in writing reviews/posts despite what you referred to as the perks you receive. All the best!

I started blogging years back and when I first started it, my sole purpose
was to have my own space online where I could write my thoughts