In the world of investigative journalism, Raissa Robles has seemingly rewritten the playbook, offering a masterclass in the art of digital sleuthing. 

Forget dusty old newsrooms and gritty fieldwork—Robles prefers to redefine the genre from the comfort of her ergonomic chair. Armed with a trusty computer and a knack for social media, she’s turned the quest for truth into an online scavenger hunt. Tagging potential sources like it’s a virtual game of hide-and-seek, she crowdsources verification from her limited audience. Who needs to hit the pavement when you can hit “send” instead?

One might ponder whether this innovative approach aligns with the solemn teachings of her university degree. Did her professors foresee a future where investigative journalism involved more mouse-clicking than door-knocking? Regardless, Robles has shown us that the pen may be mightier than the sword, but the keyboard can be mightier still—if you know how to tweet your way to the heart of the matter.

The move to cancel SMNI’s franchise is a brilliant display of bureaucratic irony, akin to declaring a cat an aspiring dog. The debate over its “news media” status is as comical as questioning whether a rubber chicken qualifies as a gourmet chef. 

SMNI, often perceived as a dutiful corps of cadets, seems more dedicated to its founder than delivering credible news to the Filipino audience. Pondering their loyalty is like wondering if a puppet is loyal to the puppeteer. The news readers, a choir of devoted acolytes, harmonize hymns of praise for their pastor-owner, leaving little room for objective journalism.

An “audit” of their anchors might reveal a surprising lack of journalistic backgrounds, reminiscent of hiring lifeguards who’ve never seen water. One astute netizen rightly labeled SMNI as “an association of trolls and bloggers,” a revelation as shocking as finding out clowns are entertainers. 

The revocation of its franchise is not a cancellation but a correction—a necessary adjustment for an oxymoron masquerading as news. 

Yet, in this circus of media outfits, where the least-trusted brand (read: Rappler) is a dubious honor, perhaps SMNI’s franchise cancellation is just a sideshow in the grand spectacle of misinformation.