Atom Araullo on balancing personal views and journalism: ‘You owe it to the public to ask tough questions’

Atom Araullo reflected on how reporters navigate personal beliefs while maintaining fairness in interviews, especially when dealing with public figures accused of wrongdoing.

On Friday’s “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” the Kapuso journalist was asked whether journalists can remain fair even when they hold strong private opinions about a source’s alleged misconduct.

“I think it's possible. Tricky ‘yan, Tito Boy. Unang-una, ‘yung access kasi, malaking usapin ‘yan sa mga journalist eh. Parang when I say access, papayag ba ‘yung tao na ma-interview siya, ‘no?” he said.

He noted that public officials or personalities may refuse interviews if they expect tough questioning.

“Kung alam no’ng i-interviewhin na itong reporter na ‘to will ask tough questions, would be adversarial, baka sabihin niya ‘wag na lang,'” Atom said.

However, he stressed that journalists cannot soften or avoid critical questions for the sake of access.

“Hindi naman puwedeng mag-pull ka ng punches kasi you owe it to the public to ask the questions they want to ask,” he said.

For him, the line is clear: accusations must be confronted directly, and verified evidence must be presented without hesitation.

“Kung ang meron ka pa lang ay akusasyon, itanong mo sa kaniya ‘yung mga akusasyon na ‘yun, pero kung meron ka nang ebidensya, merong nagsalita halimbawa merong document, merong litrato, kailangan mong ihapag sa kanila ‘yun at hindi mo lang pwedeng tanggapin, blanket denial. You have to be diligent about those things,” he said.

Atom hosts “The Atom Araullo Specials,” which tackles social issues and human-interest stories. His upcoming documentary on Siquijor, titled “Magic Island,” is set to air on November 30 at 3:15 p.m. on GMA Network.

—Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News