In “Excess of freedom, impunity; Deficit of ethics, self
criticism,” Malou Mangahas shared the findings of the recent Asian Media Barometer
on the Philippine media. Here, the report generally focused on two sides of the
Philippine media—one, of it being one of the most dangerous places for
journalists; and two, of it being unable to criticize and restrict itself.
Despite the fact that its protection of press freedom is
enshrined in the Constitution, the Philippine media remain to be the most
vulnerable and the most prone to abuse. The Philippines has constantly ranked
as one of the deadliest places for journalists, next only to Iraq and
sometimes, Afghanistan. The executive and legislative branches of the
government are slow on reforms, as evident of the non-passing of the Freedom of
Information Act.
Journalists, mostly in the provinces, are being killed
left and right, the most popular killing spree of which is the Maguindanao
massacre that killed almost 33 journalists (their motives for joining
Mangudadatu’s convoy may be unethical, but they are still journalists). The
report was also thankfully aware of how little protection these journalists
receive from their media managers—in terms of salary and other benefits. There
are no safety provisions for reporters in dangerous places in the country like
in Mindanao and there is no security of tenure for correspondents and
stringers.
With that being said, correspondents and stringers are
one of the most abused people in this profession. Unless you are writing for an
international news wire, you are subjected to delayed salaries and lack of necessary
benefits. Most journalists begin writing for a newspaper as a correspondent,
hoping to be promoted to a regular employee in the future. But the media industry
does not work like that at all. Many media outfits prefer stringers and
correspondents because they are easily disposed once their services are not
needed anymore. Editors can also choose not to publish their stories, so that they
won’t have to pay them.
Small salaries and lack of benefits lead some media men
to start taking bribes from politicians and even private companies. In the last
2010 presidential elections, at least one national candidate has been very
consistent in asking reports based at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to
kill stories and propagate his agenda. A major airline company, involved in a
labor case, has also offered bribes to reporters.
Furthermore, the report pointed out that although there
is seems to be a balance of gender in the junior and senior positions, there is
still the growing problem of the kind of content the Philippine media are
focused on. Stories on women’s rights, marginalized societies, indigenous
people and non-celebrities are rarely shown in the news, whether on television,
newspaper or on radio. The mainstream media are mainly focused on what is
happening in the capital rather than give considerable space for provincial
news.
If there can ever be too much freedom in anything, you
can probably see that in the Philippine media, which was described in the
report as the “freest and the most rambunctious in all of Asia.” The structure
of Philippine media and its protection are not the only things worth noticing
about them. The report said that the media also have a tendency to exercise its
freedom irresponsibly. Journalists are too quick to criticize society and the government
without cleaning up their own backyard first. There is a growing tendency for
Philippine journalists to exercise their freedom barring none, not even basic
journalistic values they swore to uphold.
Because gatekeepers are driven by sales, revenues and
audience share drives, reporters and editors “assert their freedom and resist
all attempts by state authorities to restrict their trade.” The report also
said that self-criticism of media by media lacked vigor and constancy, that it
is “scant and ineffectual.”
Since most media personalities in the television nowadays
are in, one way or another, connected to politicians and political parties,
there is also a tendency for them to side to a particular story or over-criticize
a sitting government official. This is what happened with Korina Sanchez and
her obvious preference not to mention the name of Vice President Jejomar Binay
every time she delivers the news.
There is simply no attempt for journalists these days to
restrict themselves from what they are unethically doing—getting stories from
the Internet, quoting television reports and taking bribes from government
officials and even private companies.
As one of the most dangerous places for journalists in
the world, the report said that the courage of Filipino journalists is
remarkable. This same courage though comes with a price. The lack of
self-criticism in the media “remains deplorable” and there is a fear that
journalists will no longer learn how to restrict themselves of doing basically
anything they want without thinking of the consequences and without giving
justice to their profession and their “noble” purpose of providing information
to help the public make sound decisions.
