PHILIPPINE media continue to evolve. From the development of Alibata to the transition to traditional forms of mass communication, they have now entered the digital era with the rise of the internet and social media. 

News organizations have since set up their pages online and have hopped on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for a wider reach and faster delivery of stories. A 2022 Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism also found that 73 percent of Filipinos use social media for news.

With the ever-evolving media landscape, how do newscasters progress in this new era and what differences have they noticed?

Sports anchors and television hosts Migs Bustos and Martin Javier shared their experiences about adapting to the changes, as they took part in republicasia and iACADEMY’s  “Lead Like a Pro” summit on Friday as speaker and host, respectively. 

Joining the media

Bustos, a sports fan, started his career in the media industry as a commentator for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on ABS-CBN Sports and Action. 

He then moved on to being a sports news anchor on ANC’s Gametime after being a reporter for Bandila and TV Patrol. He moved to ABS-CBN’s news flagship program in 2022 as host of its segments Uso at Bago and Alam N’yo Ba?

His interest in this field dates back to when, as a kid, he would pretend to be a commentator in front of their television while the volume was turned down.  

When he grew older, he pursued this line of work.  

“To have this opportunity, sabi ko noon at that time, ‘Sige, let’s see where this takes me. Pursue ko lang, gawin ko lang lahat ng pwede kong gawin, and then bahala na.’ Through hard work, dedication, trust, nanganak nang nanganak mga opportunities,’” he said.

Like Bustos, Javier is also a sports fan. He became an NCAA anchor after obtaining his broadcast communication degree from the University of the Philippines. 

Initially, he thought that he would tread the same path as his dad who was in advertising, until he realized that hosting is a possibility for him and pursued it.

It was his experiences being a host and being part of a student-DJ program on a radio station that helped kick off his media journey as a sports commentator. He has so far covered over 300 games in Asia, and he continues to enjoy the experience. 

“What sustains me now are the different stories of the athletes that I learned about, because it’s not just about covering the games or rather giving commentaries. For sure, on the surface, that’s the job. But learning about athletes, how they started, it enriches the experience all the more,” he shared.

Going digital

NCAA games are usually broadcast on television. But with the rise of new media, they  can now be streamed online. The same goes for news reports.

Since the beginning of his sportscasting career, Bustos’ way of delivering stories to the public has always been through television shows. What changed the game for him was the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the shut down of the Kapamilya network in 2020 after lawmakers refused to renew its franchise.

For someone used to traditional media, the transition was “very challenging” for the sports analyst. Bustos had to find ways to change the way he delivers information to fit the platform and the audience he wanted to reach. 

“It’s a continuous understanding; it was a continuous study of the behavior of the type of content, kasi TV orientation ko eh. So, very structured, very formal. And then you would go to digital, ibang-iba. It also depends on the platforms, it also depends on the audience, so lots of growth, lots of learning, at saka lots of trying out new things,” he said.

“I’m glad that I’m in this infancy stage na I can probably say in the future, ‘Ah, pinagdaanan ko ‘yan in the past,’” he added.

Javier, on the other hand, noticed how delivering news through digital media helped broadcasters to quickly connect with their audience. 

Before livestreaming, the only way for Javier’s team to see the comments of the sports enthusiasts was to log in to Twitter.

“But now, we’re seeing it real time when we broadcast it on Facebook, Youtube, on Instagram, on Twitter,” he said.

As technology and digital media transform rapidly, Bustos believes that people, particularly those in the media industry, would have to be ready for what’s ahead. They have to adapt and grow, he said. 

“Natutunan mo na [‘yung isang bagay], may bago na naman. So, it’s about acceptance na kailangan, we should be on that page na kailangan mong tanggapin. If you accept that that’s happening, it is part of your life that has become a lifestyle,” he said.

Know your ‘why,’ keep going

With their years of experience, Bustos and Javier have some advice for aspiring sportscasters.

Bustos said that before they enter the field, they must know what their “why” is, as it will affect many factors in their lives, including sustainability and happiness.

“Bakit mo ba siya ginagawa? Bakit mo siya gustong gawin?” he said. “At the end of the day dapat masaya ka sa ginagawa mo.” 

No one really knows what the future has in store for them, which is why Javier advises aspiring sportscasters to just power through whatever challenges they face. 

“Initially, akala ko meron siyang established na path. But eventually, I learned, and I’m a perfect example of it, you can go through other routes,” he said.

Along the way, opportunities could open up for them, he said. 

“You can cover the smaller leagues first and then go to the bigger leagues. You can get those opportunities as long as you keep going and you keep trying out,” he said.