CHAPTER I

The Problem and Its Setting

I. INTRODUCTION

GOOD LEAD PARAGRAPH, PLEASE FOLLOW THE “WATER, AIR, LAND, AND

POPULATION SEQUENCE” IN YOUR NARRATIVE OF THIS CHAPTER.

Environment is sum total of water, air and land with relations with one another. It is

also consist of human beings and other life forms. Environment is what surrounds us and its

affects everything with life.

The continuing modernization of human life also caused more environmental

problems. Over the last century, human activities associated with population growth and

industrialization has had the greatest negative impact on the health and quality of our

environment. (PNNL, 2014)

According to the Commission on Population, too many people getting the Earth’s

resources too quickly puts extreme pressure on the environment, causing depletion and

degradation of resources, destruction of plant, animal and marine habitats, pollution, and

increasing occurrence of natural disasters. This is evident in the Philippines, which recently

reached its 100 million population mark. With the growing trend, there is a big possibility of

rising more environmental problems. Such problems may include: deforestation,

overfishing, global warming, air pollution and limited safe water supplies. (Carthew A., et.al,

2012)
 As written in the report of the status of Philippine environment by Romulo T.

Aggangan, Director of Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources

Research and Development - Department of Science and Technology, the country continues

to lose about 100,000 HECTARES (haS) of forest cover annually and with the depletion of the

natural forest, other resources like soil, water, flora and fauna are also lost.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), there has been a drop of 90% in

the quantity of marine organisms that can be trawled in some traditional fishing areas of the

Philippines. This is why Filipino fishers are increasingly coming home with pitiful catches —

over-fishing in many areas. (WWF, 2013) (STUDY BA O JUST PLAINARTICLE ITO?)

At the root of the overfishing problem is weak fisheries management, ineffective

policies and poor enforcement of fishery laws. (WWF, 2013)

(On the other hand,) air pollution levels, according to the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources, are still higher than acceptable levels set by law, in

spite of improvements recorded in the past 10 years. (inquirer,net, 2014)

Climate Change and Global Warming

According to an article published by inquirer.net in 2012, a study by a United Nations

agency has warned that the Philippines ranks third in the list of countries most vulnerable to

climate change.

The climatology division of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical

Services Administration (PAGASA) has reported that climate data from 1960 to 2003 showed

significant increases in the frequency of hot days and warm nights in many areas of the

country in 2010.
 Even the waters are directly affected by global warming. The rising sea temperature

is damaging the Philippine coral reefs. A research shows that large parts of the corals are

already dead. This will have a direct impact on the 14 million Filipinos who live on the coast,

many of whom make a living from fishing. (Kruchem, 2014)

The province of Bulacan is one of the provinces in the Philippines that faces a

number of environmental problems, e.g., air pollution, land destruction, including the

uplands and lowlands, and the devastation of the water bodies surrounding it, specifically

the rivers and coastal areas. (SOURCE?)

So, in order for these environmental problems not to turn into natural disasters and

calamities, there must be a way for the people to be consciously aware and informed about

these matters.

This is where environmental reporting comes in. Environmental journalists tackle

problems concerning the environment. They raise public awareness and make people

engage with the discussion. Along the occurrence of environmental problems, the

environmental reports plague the community papers, aiming to reach and inform the

citizens about the scoop (Corbillon, Et al, 2013).

The researchers choose this topic to know the performance of local journalist on

covering and reporting environmental news, and their capability of raising environmental

awareness among the readers through their written stories. In addition, the study will focus

on the journalist’s skills in data gathering and knowledge about the issues in the

environment, particularly in the province of Bulacan.

II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the performance of selected local

journalists in Bulacan on environmental reporting as perceived by the selected students of

Bulacan State University.

Specifically, it will seek to answer the following questions:

1. How is the demographic profile of respondents be derived in terms of:

a. age;

b. sex;

c. course and year level;

d. number of times of reading local newspapers in a week;

e. awareness in environmental issues in Bulacan?

2. How is the demographic profile of local journalists be derived in terms of:

a. age;

b. sex;

c. educational attainment;

d. years in the field;

e. seminars attended;

f. number of environmental stories written every week/month;

g. awards, citations received?

 3. How does the performance of selected local journalists be described?

4. Is there a need for environmental trainings for local Journalists in Bulacan?

5. Do local journalists perform their job accordingly in informing the public about

environmental issues?

III. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Upon completion, it will be of importance to the following:

LOCAL JOUNALISTS. So that they will understand and learn more from this research through

suggested styles and do’s and don’ts in covering natural calamities. This study might help

them broaden their capability in gathering data as well.

JOURNALISM STUDENTS. This study will help them nourish their knowledge in the field of

environmental reporting. The knowledge collected to this study can lead them to a wider

range of journalism and in performing while on the field.

FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & LETTERS. This study may help them provide more

seminars on environmental reporting, in order to help their students become more

knowledgeable and equipped on the said field.

READERS AND ORDINARY CITIZENS. This study will help them become aware of the existing

environmental problems in the province, and will enrich their minds on how to deal with

these crises.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS. This research may help them in terms of environmental

awareness in the province so that they can come up with programs that will help the

community before, during and after an environmental crisis.

UNIVERSITIES OFFERING JOURNALISM COURSES. Schools and universities offering

journalism course can create and formulate a specific teaching technique which they can

apply to increase the competency of their college and journalism instructors, particularly in

environmental reporting subject, among others.

IV. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

This study will cover ten (10) selected local journalist in Bulacan with at least one

year experience in the line of duty. In addition, this study will determine the skills of the

participants in covering, writing and reporting environmental issues particularly in the

province area.

This study will be limited to the journalist outside the province. Lastly, this study will

only takes place in the province of Bulacan. The researchers will survey and seek

information to the experts in environmental reporting.

V. DEFINITION OF TERMS

AFTERMATH - the consequences or after-effects of a significant unpleasant event

AGRICULTURE – the science or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising

livestock.

AIR POLLUTION - the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful

materials into the Earth's atmosphere, possibly causing disease, death to humans, damage

to other living organisms such as food crops, or the natural or built environment
AQUACULTURE – cultivation of aquatic organisms (such as fish or shell fish) especially for

food

DEFORESTATION - refers to the cutting, clearing, and removal of rainforest or related

ecosystems into less bio-diverse ecosystems such as pasture, cropland, or plantations

ENVIRONMENT - the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or

operates

ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS - journalists that specializes in covering and reporting about

the environment

FLOODING – happens when a large amount of water covers an area of land that is usually

dry

GLOBAL WARMING - a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's

atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of

carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS – newspapers that cover and reports events in a local context,

specifically in the province of Bulacan. Examples of these are:

a. Mabuhay Newspaper

b. NewsCORE

C.

D.

E.
MASS MEDIA - the means of communication that reach large numbers of people in a short

time such as television, newspapers, magazines, and radio

ON-HAND REPORTS - reports that was acquired through personal observations.

OVERFISHING - deplete the stock of fish in a body of water by excessive fishing

SELECTED STUDENTS________________?

TREE PLANTING – process of transplanting tree seedlings, generally for forestry, land

reclamation or landscaping purposes.

TYPHOON HAIYAN - one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, which devastated

portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on November 8, 2013

READERS – people who read environmental stories from local newspapers

URBAN EXCESS - excessive urbanization of an area which leads to the destruction of a

balanced environment

WATER SHORTAGE – condition in which people lack sufficient water or else do not have

access to safe water supplies

PLEASE PUT A PERIOD AT THE END OF EVERY SENTENCE.