Which would you prioritize: To report the news or to help the victim?

Broadcast journalist Daniel Razon took his stand on this query when he introduced Tulong Muna Bago Balita (Rescue First Before News), both as the new news tagline and advocacy, during UNTV’s 6th anniversary celebration held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Philippines on July 18.

The advocacy, pioneered through the UNTV News Team, encourages media people to save lives first before reporting the news. With the other public services that Mr. Razon carries out, Tulong Muna Bago Balita is another leap to provide more genuine service to the public.

“Our fellowmen are more important than anything else, more than getting and delivering news,” Mr. Razon said.

He further explained that being the first to get the scoop would be useless if the man, who might have a chance to live if rescued, died on the scene. “It appears that you are instrumental to his death. While we have the capability to rescue, why don’t we help the people first to take them out of their agonies,” the broadcast journalist added.

To set the system rolling, Mr. Razon sent the UNTV News Team to an emergency response training (ERT) course even before he made the official announcement about the advocacy. With the help of Search and Rescue Unit Foundation, Inc. (SARUF), a recognized army rescue unit in the Philippines, reporters, drivers, and cameramen of UNTV across the country are being trained to be rescuers – from the application of first aid for various accidents to technical search and rescue efforts.

UNTV is the first media entity in the Philippines to have undergone the emergency response training, and its personnel are the first in their field to acquire the skill to save lives of those in need according to SARUF President Jerry Carual. He also expressed his gratitude to Mr. Razon for such advocacy that shares the same goal as their foundation – to save lives of their fellowmen.

Mr. Razon, who is UNTV’s Chief Executive Officer, plans to have all the station’s employees in the country learn the same emergency response skill as he readies UNTV correspondents abroad to go through similar training with the help of the United States rescue trainers.

After passing ERT, UNTV News Team was renamed UNTV News and Rescue Team.

Besides Tulong Muna Bago Balita, Mr. Razon also leads numerous outreach programs and public services like daily free medical missions, free legal assistance, free train, bus, and jeepney rides, free air fare for Overseas Filipino Worker, free private college education, transient homes, and many others. Today, he is known as the Philippines’ Mr. Public Service and Kuya Daniel for his continued efforts to provide assistance to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

For his great contribution to the media industry, Mr. Razon earned several recognition from international award-giving bodies including this year’s Shorty Awards where he was the only Filipino finalist for Best Journalist category. Also this year, Netherlands-based Ode Magazine featured him as Intelligent Optimist. This sets him apart as a paradigm of true media man and as a man withthe heart of a true public servant.

Written by Ana Hazel Chavez-David