Award-winning Kapuso journalist and documentarist Kara David sparked conversations online after posting a powerful reminder to her fellow storytellers on Monday, November 11, about the true essence of journalism and storytelling.
In a short but striking Facebook post, Kara wrote: “You are not the story. You are just the storyteller. Let the story shine through, not you.”
Her statement immediately drew attention and mixed reactions from netizens, some of whom speculated about whom the post might be referring to, while others praised the reminder for its depth and clarity.
One user commented, “Sino yarn Ms. Kara???? Naintriga ako sa pa-blind item emeee,” while another said, “This is a powerful reminder. Sometimes we get so caught up in how we deliver the story that we forget the story itself holds the real magic.”
Other reactions echoed Kara’s sentiment: “Yes, I agree. Let people tell their own story. It is not our narrative to tell.” “A must-remember for aspiring documentary writers.” “I love this perspective! Let the story speak for itself.”
Some, however, wondered whether the post was alluding to recent viral figures in news coverage—such as TV5 cameraman Mark Andrew “Mac” Ortiz, who went viral for his on-ground reporting during Super Typhoon Uwan, or American storm chaser Josh Morgerman of iCyclone, who also covered the same storm.
Kara did not mention anyone by name in her post.
This is not the first time the ‘I-Witness’ host and ‘Pinas Sarap’ anchor has shared this message. During ‘i-25: The I-Witness Talks’ at the University of Santo Tomas in August 2024, she reminded aspiring storytellers to never lose sight of their purpose.
“Noong pumasok ako sa GMA, ang aking ama na nasa media rin dati, may bilin sa akin,” she recalled.
“Ang bilin niya sa akin, ‘Pag gagawa ka ng istorya, huwag mong kalilimutan ito: You are not the story. You are the storyteller. Huwag mong gagawing ikaw ang bida. It’s never about you, it’s about the people you interview.’”
Kara, the daughter of sociologist and veteran journalist Prof. Randy David, has long been known for her thought-provoking documentaries and ethical stance in storytelling.
