In this day and age where almost any person with access to appropriate technology can become a citizen journalist, news that is unbiased, in-depth and focused on social change may be difficult to come by. As Bulatlat has proved, one does not need much to produce quality news reports. All one needs is a few computers, know-how, and perhaps dedication.
Bulatlat is a news website that has been in existence since 2001. Undergoing changes in format and style over the years, it is currently operated through Wordpress and funded with the help of donations and sponsors. It has an editorial team, four regular writers, along with a bevy of contributors and publishes weekly issues online on Bulatlat.com.
The driving force behind the Bulatlat editorial team is the advocacies it upholds. Among others, Bulatlat reports on human rights, women, migrant workers, and governance. It prides itself on upholding pro-people journalism. According to Janess Ellao, senior reporter for Bulatlat, many of their award-winning articles are victim-oriented rather than partial to the government. This sets Bulatlat apart from other news outfits in the country.
The website itself caters not only to Filipinos in the country, but those who are based abroad as well. Carlos Conde says that Bulatlat is focused on making people understand the context of major news events that happen in the country. He says that the reports require in-depth research as everything is explained thoroughly.
Being an alternative media outfit certainly has it’s challenges. Bulatlat is funded through donations, and makes do with what they have. They are a small organization with less reporters than regular media outfits, and their medium is the internet which is not readily available to everyone.
According to Benjie Oliveros, managing editor, the news week in Bulatlat starts with a staff meeting on Mondays, discussing possible topics that can be included for the week’s issue. Reporters are assigned four to five beats per week, and topics depend on what the staff deem is relevant or what should be brought to light. Research takes time, as articles published in Bulatlat are not mere news articles, but more of news features. The articles pass three editors before being posted on the website.
