Debunking the Misleading Attacks Against a Mainstream Media: Setting the Record Straight

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In recent discussions surrounding the headline “Sinampolan ni Associate Professor Cielo Magno ng University of the Philippines (UP) School of Economics ang blogger na si Sass Rogando Sassot,” there has been an aggressive attempt to discredit the author of the news article rather than focusing on the actual issue at hand. 

This response aims to invalidate the misleading arguments used to destroy the credibility of the article’s author and expose the manipulative tactics used in this smear campaign.

Here is the attempt to discredit the author:

“Sinampolan ni Associate Professor Cielo Magno ng University of the Philippines (UP) School of Economics ang blogger na si Sass Rogando Sassot.”

What's in the headline?! Let's analyze!!!

Grabe ang hook, ano? Sinampolan! But here’s what it’s actually saying once you strip it down and put some neon highlighter on the subtext:

Unahin natin ang flexing na ginawa sa title.

The author didn't just say "Cielo Magno.” Hindi. He went on a full blast LinkedIn intro, CV Resume headline “Associate Professor Cielo Magno ng University of the Philippines (UP) School of Economics.”

I’m telling you. From the headline alone, the author is trying to communicate something to us, and it’s a mouthful of authority. It signals legitimacy, intellect, and institutional power. Like, you’re not just debating with Cielo. You’re going toe-to-toe with a credentialed economist from UP, basically the academic equivalent of bringing a bazooka to a blog war. Alam mo yun?! The entire university is with her in this battle. Ganern ang dating.

Alam mo, pag hindi mo ina-nalayze ang sinulat nung writer, maiisahan ka into believing na purita levels lang si Sass in terms of edumication. Diva?!

And what about Sass?! Ano ang label ke Sass? Just ‘blogger’.

Hindi man lang nag-google si Ralph Mendoza. Nope.  No "political analyst," not even a "public commentator" or "columnist,"  because I thought Sass used to write for Manila Times.

Just: “ang blogger na si Sass Rogando Sassot.”

Kaluoy!

Because if you dig into her credentials, you’d find:

* BA in Business Administration (Human Resource Management) from the Open University of Hong Kong.

*BA Combined Major in World Politics & Global Justice with a minor in International Development (magna cum laude) from Leiden University College.

*MA in International Relations from Leiden University.

*Currently pursuing a PhD in International Relations in Beijing as an ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship awardee.

Which means, if you’re gonna be fair, you’d write it as “Associate Professor Cielo Magno ng University of the Philippines (UP) School of Economics si International Relations Scholar and PhD Student in International Relations in Beijing as as an ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholar.” 

Now, that would drown Cielo Magno. Kerek?!

Kasi kapag “Blogger Sass Rogando Sassot” lang, that's like giving "pangarap kong maging verified sa Facebook vibes" as if to say, “Sige, shout ka lang diyan sa Facebook, ate.”

Obvious na obvious ang imbalance. This is not a fair fight in the framing. It’s a dressed-up professor in a faculty lounge serving up a public intellectual sampol, and on the other side is just... a blogger. Ouch.

And finally, “Sinampolan” as the final blow.

“Sinampolan” doesn’t just mean “criticized.” It means “ginawang halimbawa,” “napag-tripan ng lecture ni ma’am.”

It implies, Cielo didn’t just argue with Sass. She demonstrated her point using Sass.

Para bang hindi ka ka-level, girl. Exhibit A ka lang.

So, what does the headline really communicate?

The author is telling us that this isn’t a debate. This is a classroom where the professor is teaching a lesson, and the poor “blogger” is the whiteboard example. 

It's a subtle, but very intentional way of shaping the audience's perception before they even read the details.

Ganern!

Tse!

This how we debunk the smear campaign:

1. Attacking the Author Instead of the Argument: A Classic Deflection Tactic

The criticisms against the news article focus almost entirely on discrediting the journalist rather than engaging with the actual content of the article. Instead of challenging the facts presented, the opposing party resorts to ad hominem attacks—a well-known logical fallacy where the person is attacked rather than the argument.

This is a deliberate deflection strategy designed to distract the audience. If the article’s opponents had a solid counterargument, they would have presented factual refutations instead of personal smears against the journalist.

Why This Matters:

A strong counterargument does not require character assassination. When a party fails to provide substantial counterpoints and instead resorts to personal attacks, it reveals their weak position in the debate.

2. The False Outrage Over “Sinampolan” – A Manufactured Controversy

A major argument pushed by the opposing side is that the word “sinampolan” supposedly paints an unfair and biased picture. But let’s break it down logically.

The word “sinampolan” means “ginawang halimbawa” or “criticized publicly as an example.” It does not imply any intellectual or moral superiority of one party over another. It is a neutral term used in journalism to describe how one public figure responded to another.

Why This Matters:

The article did not fabricate events—Cielo Magno did criticize Sassot publicly.

The word choice is journalistically valid—it describes what happened without exaggeration or distortion.

The outrage over this word is artificial, designed to make the journalist appear biased when, in reality, the phrasing remains objective.

The real issue here is not the word used but that one party simply did not like how they were portrayed.

3. The “Blogger” Label – A Non-Issue Blown Out of Proportion

Another misleading argument is the claim that Sass Rogando Sassot was unfairly labeled as a ‘blogger’ instead of listing her full academic background.

Let’s clarify:

Sassot IS a blogger.

Being called a blogger is not an insult, nor does it erase her other qualifications.

The term blogger is a factual description of her most prominent public role.

The misleading counter-narrative falsely claims that not listing Sassot’s full credentials is an intentional act of deception. But in journalism, brevity is key—articles do not always include every single title or degree of every person mentioned.

Why This Matters:

UP Professor Cielo Magno was introduced with her university position because it was relevant to the discussion—she is an academic responding to a political issue.

Sassot was introduced as a blogger because that is how she engages with the public on political matters.

If Sassot’s supporters want her to be called something else, that is a personal preference, not a factual inaccuracy. The argument is purely emotional, not logical.

4. False Accusations of Media Bias – A Smokescreen to Avoid the Real Issue

Those attacking the journalist claim the article was “framed” to make Sassot look bad. But let’s analyze:

The article reported actual events.

The framing did not add false information.

The argument against bias is subjective and based on perception, not fact.

A journalist’s role is not to please everyone but to present the information as accurately as possible. The accusations of bias are not based on factual misreporting but on dissatisfaction with how the article presented a public exchange.

Why This Matters:

The real goal of these attacks is to intimidate journalists and discourage critical reporting. If we allow these baseless accusations to stand, we create an environment where journalists can no longer write truthfully without fear of backlash.

Conclusion: The Attacks Against the Journalist Are Unfounded and Misleading

The attempts to discredit the author of the article are not based on facts but on misleading narratives and emotional manipulation. The opposing party:

Attacks the journalist instead of addressing the actual arguments.

Fabricates outrage over word choices that are journalistically valid.

Misrepresents the use of the term “blogger” to create false victimhood.

Falsely claims media bias to undermine factual reporting.

These tactics are not about truth—they are about controlling the narrative and silencing critical voices. We must reject these baseless attacks and support factual, responsible journalism.

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