Excess of freedom, impunity; Deficit of ethics, self-criticism - Bernice Bauzon

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.