MANILA, Philippines -- Some 170 students, teachers and staff of the University of the Philippines’ (UP) College of Mass Communication (CMC) have issued a scathing criticism of the media’s coverage of Monday’s hostage tragedy, and called on journalists to exercise more prudence in covering delicate situations.

“While our friends in the media should be commended for providing up-to-date information on what transpired, some media organizations should be criticized for the same reason because they ended up giving TOO MUCH information,” the UP College of Mass Communication  said in a statement on Friday.

They said analysis of the media coverage of the August 23 hostage-taking showed “there was information that proved to be relevant not to the public but to the hostage-taker as he became desperate and ended up killing the hostages. That media covered live the arrest of the hostage-taker’s brother apparently did not help in resolving the situation.”

Former police senior inspector Rolando Mendoza, disgruntled over what he thought was his unfair dismissal from the force that took away benefits due his retirement next year, hijacked a tourist bus in Rizal Park. Mendoza died in a gun battle with policemen, ending the 11-hour hostage-taking that took the lives of 8 Hong Kong tourists. 

Media covered the hostage drama extensively all the way to its tragic end, prompting numerous issues on coverage protocols and ethical behavior.

“It is appalling that the live coverage was done not to help the public make sense of the situation but only to milk it for all it is worth. The competition for higher ratings among broadcast stations was evident as they tried to provide 'exclusive' reports, even going to the extent of interviewing another hostage-taker in 2007 who expressed no remorse in what he did. He even claimed that he did it for the country,” the UPCMC said.

The college advised media to reflect, and for journalists to “not allow themselves to be held hostage by their ignorance of ethical practice because they will end up doing a disservice to the victims and the public.”

It also echoed a brewing sentiment even among journalists: “We need to remember some basic rules in covering hostage-taking incidents.”

The UPCMC also scored the police for failing to coordinate with media, and for failing to peacefully resolve the situation.

“The disarray in the police operation reflects the disorganization and chaos in the Philippine National Police, the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Aquino administration."