Cold Turkey

Costuna, Patricia B.

2013-00703

BA Broadcast Communication

“Slowing Down and Being Stuck with MY Life”

As a student of the College of Mass Communication, exposure to media is just a normal thing inside and outside our classrooms. We may also consider it as a required thing for Maskom students. With the tagline: “Tinig na Malaya. Tinig na Mapagpalaya,” students of our college need to be updated and involved with each issue in our society. For me, this is an obligation. Being aspiring media people, we shall be “maalam..” But, it is not only that. We shall also be critical because it will us, not only in our individual growth, but also in our patriotism. As students of the University of the Philippines and as the scholars of the nation, we shall give back to our country by involvement and contribution to the betterment of our country through having critical lens in every emerging issue.

For this 24-Hour No Media challenge, I chose to unplug with the Internet world. Ironically speaking, I have eliminated television and radio in my everyday life a long time ago. I am a dependent to the Internet with regards to trending issues and insights. I am stuck with the blogs in getrealphilippines.com and podcasts Gang Badoy’s online radio program. It is true that as a Maskom student, I should be exposed to these media. But, will you blame me if the internet has it all? Even the local newspapers have websites containing their headlines and stories, with the bonus of videos and audio interviews. So, are you willing to stay up all night just to wait for your favorite documentary it there is an online streaming? I bet you will say no. That is the reason why I became so dependent with the Internet.

Another reason for me becoming Internet-dependent is that, my social life depends on it. Organization applications, academic groupworks, long distance communication with my family, romantic relationship, and many more communication aspects of my life revolves around the...