TV Coverage of Typhoon Yolanda

 

One of the many houses damaged during the landfall of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Visayas region. Haiyan is perhaps the strongest recorded typhoon in history, with a 315 kph wind.

Last night the Philippines experienced the wrath of Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda). The 315 kph typhoon struck much of Visayas, and even brought strong winds in Southern and Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Northern Mindanao, leaving nearly 60 casualties and counting. And every news outlet were there to cover the storm.

The ABS-CBN News Channel, DZMM TeleRadyo, GMA News TV, AksyonTV and Solar News Channel extensively covered the news of the typhoon last Friday. However, during the afternoon press conference at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, only the ANC, DZMM TeleRadyo, SNC and GNTV were willing to air the live proceedings, while AksyonTV continued with the Radyo5 hookup of ‘Wanted sa Radyo’ and ‘Cristy FerMinute’. While AksyonTV did give way to breaking news on the NDRRMC press conference, their reluctance to air the press conference rather than continuing with their radio hookup still befuddles viewers.

ABS-CBN, TV5 and GMA also provided up-to-date reports on the storm during their newscasts. That said, it was a busy day for the writers, producers, anchors, reporters and cameramen who were present in covering the latest reports on Typhoon Yolanda. However, two lasting images involving news reporters stand out.

The first image came during ABS-CBN reporter Atom Araullo‘s report in Tacloban, where he braved the strong winds and heavy rains in order to provide the latest updates on the storm. Araullo first reported on the situation during ‘Umagang Kay Ganda’, but it was during ‘TV Patrol’ where his gutsy reporting became the talk of social media. Even CNN and various others news outlets around the world reported on Araullo’s bravery.

On the other hand, netizens criticize GMA‘s 24 Oras for cutting its program short during Jiggy Manicad’s report. Perhaps the network couldn’t wait to start their GMA Telebabad block, hence the decision not to go ahead with Jiggy’s report. Eventually Jiggy reported on the situation during News TV’s ‘State of the Nation’ and on GMA’s ‘Saksi’, where he and fellow reporter Love Anover reported on the casualty count and the damage Tacloban endured during Yolanda’s landfall. While his report was already belated, netizens were still keen to praise his bravery and calmness.

Typhoon Yolanda is scheduled to depart the Philippine Area of Responsibility later today. In the meantime, news outlets around the country and internationally will continue to give reports regarding the path of the storm.