Bandila (TV program)
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| Bandila | |
|---|---|
 Bandila logo (2006) |
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| Genre | News |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Creator(s) | ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. |
| Starring | Korina Sanchez Henry Omaga-Diaz Ces Drilon |
| Country of origin | Philippines |
| Original channel | ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. |
| Original run | July 3, 2006– |
Bandila (Flag in Tagalog/Filipino) is the flagship late-night national newscast of ABS-CBN. It replaced ABS-CBN Insider and returned Korina Sanchez back to newscasting after nearly two years since she left TV Patrol. It was launched on July 3, 2006 as part of its re-programming campaign Similar to ABC World News with Charles Gibson.
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[edit] About
"Bandila", which is the Filipino word for flag, also alludes to the term “banner story,” or top news of the day.
Maria Ressa, head of ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs Division explained this as: “Three colors, three stars, three anchors.” Charie Villa, head of newsgathering, said Drilon, Diaz and Sanchez were “three of the network’s most experienced reporters-anchors.” The news program gave a comeback to journalist Korina Sanchez after she was appointed as Chief Correspondent for Philippine and Global Operations of ABS-CBN News.
The network's goal for Bandila was to make it agenda-setting, nationalistic and fast-paced.
The move of the network to put the late-evening news program in an earlier timeslot is said to be the station's response towards responsible journalism and public service. It is pitted against comedy programs of the other networks.
It is also the very first news program in the history of Philippine Television (and probably in the history of News & Journalism) that had an official theme song, titled Isang Bandila composed and sung by Rivermaya's lead singer, Rico Blanco.
During its pilot episode, it broadcasted the controversial video of General Lim organizing a coup d'etat again President Gloria Arroyo.
The over-all Executive-in-charge of Production of the news program is Luchi Cruz-Valdez.
[edit] Reportage
Bandila became popular because it went where its competitor dared not to go in terms of reportage style and the choice of timeslot. It was known for airing blow-by-blow account of the events in Lebanon and Israel with the help of their appointed Chiefs from the network's Europe and Middle East News Bureau. The Lebanon-Israel War and OFW rescue coverage was and is still being covered exclusively because ABS-CBN is the only station that was able to send a news team in Beirut and Israel. It was also consistent in reporting exclusive stories that are never reported by other news programs.
At the height of the Nursing Board Exam leakage issue in the Philippines, Bandila is the only news program that was able to reveal the Nursing board exam review centers and schools that received a copy of the leakage. It was also the very first news program that revealed the name of the officials who initiated the leakage, and the first to interview Nursing board exam takers that attended the distribution of the leaked review materials. Veering from a usual practice of news programs, Bandila noticeably dispelled with entertainment gossip & crime reports. This bold move was acclaimed by the media practitioners in the country. Bandila has also toned down the volume in so far as news reading is concerned, shying away from the loud and exaggerated delivery of the news by its competitors.
[edit] Context
In the September 2006 Issue of PJR Reports, a newspaper released by the Center of Media Freedom and Responsibility, it was mentioned that Bandila’s strength is its willingness to take a story and explore the various issues surrounding it. To quote the article, "it takes an issue to another level by adding perspective and analysis to it, thereby providing viewers a journalistic ingredient sorely lacking in many TV reports: context". Such objective causes the reports to be longer than usual.
[edit] Criticism
Due to the lengthy primetime programs of ABS-CBN, Bandila starts 20 minutes late from its promised timeslot. However, it still managed to address the continuing concern about the television networks’ preoccupation with ratings rather than public service.
[edit] References
- ABS-CBN raises Flag of Journalism Excellence (Manila Times article)
- Rallying behind Bandila (PJR Reports - CMFR, September 2006 Issue)
