Text messaging on radio

Getting listener's reactions or feedback through text has become a fad among radio stations in the city particularly among public affairs programs. Radio announcers normally read whatever is written by the texter (mostly comments on certain issues) who does not even bother to give his/her identity. Comments range from tame to harsh... there are even anchormen who engage their listener/texter into an argument over certain matters, usually already out of the issue being discussed.

There are also radio stations which conduct polls or surveys among its listeners through text. But, how credible are the polls or surveys using text messaging? Well, in the first place we do not know what are the mechanics employed by the anchormen in determining texters to be included in the surveys. For instance, the issue pertains to the affairs of Iloilo City... who knows the texter is not a resident of the city but of another province. Remember the signal of radio stations reach other nearby provinces.

Another thing, considering that announcers don't mention the texter's number and in the absence of the texter's identification, we really don't know if the texters are the same persons sending text messages to the radio station again and again.

So, I think text messaging on radio should be limited only to greetings and tips or information... in the case of reactions or commentaries on certain issues I think radio stations should require the identification of the texter...