INSIDE: Vv Polling for Media The Philippine Mediacracy oo oo oe Banning Political Ads‘ON THE COVER Covering Pope John Paul it's visit became both a media event as well as a media is- sue when the granting of of- ficial" status 10 GMA-7 trig- gered protests from rival TV station ABS-CBN 2. and Tased constitutional ssues, Inthisissue, PUR Iooks into the Inside story of the network "war". Cover artwork by Nonoy Marcelo,I EXECUTIVE EDITOR ‘Melinds Quintos de Jesus MANAGING EDITOR Luis V. Teodoro STAFF Robert Jaworski L. Abaiio Florian M. Tarcelo CONTRIBUTORS Bailberto de Jesus Solomon Hermosura Danilo Lucas James B. McEnzcer Sheila C. Oviedo PHOTOS Joan Bondoc EDITORIAL SECRETARY Carol G. Mendora ‘The Philippine Journalism Review fspubshed quarterly bythe Contr far Me ‘i Freolom and Responiiiy (Gray National Meda Coamril Plea adds a ‘sbcription mul the Pippi Forel: fam Revie, c/o Center or Medi Fresdoma and Responsibility Unit 405, iz Con dominium, Meake Ave, Origa Cen Pasig Meteo Mania Tel 6538917; 339437 Pblnhed ty the Center for Medis restemand Responsbidty th gran for, ‘he himeV Ongpin rie of Bina and {Government QVO-BG), The Ass Fou ‘omar the United Stass Agency for nie tational Development (USAID) PAR wleomes contains on pres and adits Manuscript mu be ped Aouotesace and accompanied asad rose, taped envelope. BOARD OF ADVISERS Di. Jore Abuera Fx Joaquin Beraa, SJ Ms, Melinda Quintos de Jests ‘Mr. Santiago Dumlao (Me. Lydia Babtbat-Echaue Ms Tiaa Menzon Palms PHILIPPINE JOURNALISM REVIEW This Issue Towards a New Journalism Model .............. 13 by Amar Ibrahim JANUARY-MARCH 1995 Reaction Veiled Criticism by Luis % Teodoro Freedom is Essential to the Press by Raul Locsin Discord Over the Airwaves . . by Florian M. Tarcelo Guest Opinion Media vs. Media . . hy Solomon Hermosura Covering the Pope's Visit ‘Exclusively’ ........... by Jore Sison Doughnut Go Gentle . ‘The Rise of the Philippine Mediacracy by James McEnteer 2224 Feeling the Public Pulse Through Surveys L by Robert Jaworski L. Abaito Congress Fails to Pass Lifting of Ad Ban by Danilo Lucas Changing of the Guard .......... by Sheila Oviedo Evaluating Development Projects ... . - by Edilberto de Jesus gularrs Bienes Note o5. 6 designe tp Cees KE & Monitor. . . - see Media Roundup Lia Update. viciscie svserersseroes2 INUARY-MARCH 1995 PyR- 7 - Editor s Note A Beginning, Not an End or the country’s over 40 million Catholics, the visit of Pope John Paul II to the Philippines early this year was a great spiritual event. For media, however, it was first of all news—and, many of its critics allege, entertain- ment and business as well Media were accused of helping turn the visit into a veritable circus as both print and broadcast slugged it out for ratings and circulation, trying to outdo each other via almost minute-by-minute accounts of what the Pope did, what he-said, how he looked, how people reacted—at times reporting him as if he were a rock star or movie actor, and indeed referring to the crowds that untiringly massed on every occasion where he was present as his “fans.” ‘Unbeknownst to the “fans,” however, was the three-corered controversy be tween the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and TV Channels 7 and 2 over GMA Channel 74 designation by the CBCP as the “official” channel for the visit, which GMA 7 interpreted as a guarantee of exclusivity, among others. Inevi- tably the controversy took on a constitutional cast, with questions being raised about free expression and press freedom. Of course no one was prohibited from covering the Pope, but the questions still linger, as this issue's feature on the network “war” and our two guest opinions reveal However, the “war” was just one more episode in the effort of Philippine media to define its role in Philippine society. As the decade wears on and the redemocratization of the country proceeds, albeit in fits and starts, it has in fact become clear that media issues will be among the major concerns of Philippine democracy in the years to come ‘The relative freedom of Philippine media, as is clear in the discussions that followed the speech of Malaysian Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim which appears in this issue, imposes upon them corresponding obligations. Arriving at a consensus over the extent and nature of those obligations for the sake of the larger freedom of the Philippine press will increasingly be a major concern of the “mediacracy,” as the UP College of Mass Communication’s visiting Fulbright professor James McEnteer puts it But that imposes additional burdens on the school system and all of Philippine society as well. As media become more and more a major factor in the lives of everyone—and as the world enters a new information age—media literacy will become as necessary as reading, writing and numeracy skills to enable a free people to discharge its democratic responsibilities. Alll of which serve to affirm that winning press freedom marks the beginning, not the end, of the real work in media not only for its practitioners, but for every- one else concerned with the future. ©Monitor Economists lock horns over what to do with strong peso (iar k JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PR 3 Visual Aid The graphs and tables used by TODAY (27 November 1994) in its story “Economists lack horns ‘over what to do with strong peso” provided readers with a means «0 better understand the very complex phenomenon of the rising value of the Philippine currency Hasty Pudding (On December 11, Malaya got first crack at the news on the fatal attack againse UP student Dennis ‘Venturina. But in its haste to get the story out, the story lost accuracy and coherence. In the initial part of the story, the report identified Vencurina as a member of the Sigma Rho frater nity, Two paragraphs down, the report said, “Officer-on-case Lt. Danny Rivera quoced witnesses as saying the atackers are members of the Sigma Rho fraernity” Stil. two paragraphs after. the story continued with, “Probers said leaders of the Scintilla Juris will be summoned to shed light on the incidene” The story did not cue the readers on. why, among the numer ous other fraternities in the Univer- sity, the SJ would be questioned. Didn’: witnesses say the attackers were from the Signa Rho fraternity, brods of the victim? The reports of the following cay, December 12, provided a clearer picture. The Philippine Daily In- quirer said “che incident could have been in retaliation for a similar artack three months ago by Sigma Rhoans on Scintilla Juris fratmen”4 DR JANUARY-MARCH 1995 Dead—Or Alive? ‘The question of whether Abubakar Janjalani was dead oF alive engaged the Manila newspapers for more than a week hefore the reports achieved certainty, ‘On January 16, news in several chilies carried a police report to Camp Crame that Janjalani was among those killed in the clash between government forces and the Abu Sayyafin Basilan, However, the Manila Bullet the Manila Times and the Philip- pine Journal immediately either in the head or in the lead, made it clear that the report was still uncon firmed, TODAY and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, on the other hand,were not as forthright, On this first day that the news broke, TODAY reported as fact the supposed death of Janjalani with the headline, “Abu leader Janjalani killed” even as it failed to cite enough evidence to prove it. The raph even stated, “It was not known, however, how Janjalani’ death was verified, as only two s of Abu Sayyaf members were seen by government troopers” The lead of the Inquirer report read,“‘The leader of the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf was among those killed in a clash with Army Scout Rangers at a remote village in Buxilan, reports reaching Camp Crame said yesterday” It was only in the eighth and ninth paragraphs where the story gave any indication that the “news” sill had to be verified. In the following days, newer reports failed to confirm the initial Camp Crame report. Some reports ceven began to appear like rumors dressed up as news. In the Times, on January 20, the lead of the follow-up report read, “Now, the latest word from ‘Camp Aguinaldo on Abu Sayyaf leader Abdujakar Abubakar Janjalani: he’ alive, bur wounded in 4 gunbattle with soldiers. “Or maybe now” On January 25, nine days afier the story first saw print, the contro- versy, not Janjalani, was finally laid to rest. Manila Chronicle correspon- dent Rodl Parefio wrote a first-hand account of his interview with Janjalami in Basilan. Foot In Mouth Disease ‘The newspapers were the vehicles for a “pork scare” in January, although most published ‘conflicting and vague reports on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), an ailment which aflicts food ani Monitor On January 10, che Philippine Daily Inquirer's initial report “Pork buyers warned on foor-mouth discasc” was disturbingly incom- plete. ‘Although it didn’t explicitly state that FMD was harmful to consumers, the lead said the govern ‘ment “cautioned consumers on buying pork following reports that some hogs already infected with the foot-and-mouth disease were already butchered and sold in the market Three paragraphs down, it continued, “The virus in the hog...can still be passed on to pork consumers. In the ninth paragraph, it said, “@urcau of Animal Industry) officials said it has informed all provincial veterinarians about the possible outbreak of epidemic” The report, using the words “caution,” epidemic” and “consumers” would have definitely set off alarm bells in the readers mind. Bur having rated the alarm, the Inquirer report failed to pin down, government on the measures undertaken to protect the public. The report also failed to answer important questions: How will consumers be affected by this virus? ‘Will they suffer the same disease? ‘What was the level of danger involved? Should consumers stop buying pork altogether? Nothing could have heightened “the scare” more than the uncer tainty conveyed by the reports. (On January 13,a report fiom TODAY said,"_.the (FMD) could affect even humans and could even be fatal to them (underscoring provided).” And the source of this highly unsestling advisory on public health? Agriculturists. The following day, January 14,the press release of BAI assuring the public that “FMD in man is be- rnign,” appeared in four dailies, excluding TODAY and PDI. The release also made clear that humans are carriers of FMD, ‘The Philippine Journal, however, did not even get the release right. In the sixth paragraph, it reported, “While man is not an outright disease victim,” he can never serve as 2 ‘mechanical vector’ or carrier... (underscoring pro- vided)” Less than a week after the reports on BAIS assurance, the warnings were again issued by the papers. (On June 18, the Inquirer's follow-up report, citing foreign stadies, again cautioned against the effects of FMD on people. This time the Inquirer made clear the symp- toms manifested by an infected person, This Inquirer report, however, made no reference to the BAL assurance issued earlier. ‘On January 19, the Manila Chronicle, TODAY and Malaya, citing the National Meat Inspection (Commission as source, aired the same warning to consumers—that PMD can afflict humans, ‘All three didn't see fit to refer to the contrary findings of the BAL reported earlier in several dailies, the Chronicle included. ‘The Chronicle also commited ‘a grave typo error, missing the all- important word “not” in the eighth paragraph. After having said in the frst part ofthe report that FMD is “aeither fatal to humans or hoofed animals,” the eighth paragraph said, “the disease could make a person sick but would lead to death(underscoring provided)” Newspapers need to do more JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PyR. 5 p anineasoe than simply release statements, There are enough experts around to clarify the danger, but they should be consulted at the point of first release to avoid the subsequently contradic tory and confusing statements. 0 0ra{antaneon Sue ‘hig presen anteinpart sue satoquaresy ‘Agreement on Customs Valu: . Decision Regarding Cases’ Gustome Lo GATT Follow-Ups PJR notes the diligent follow- ups of the Manila Times in providing significant and timely information on the complex discussions on the General Agree ‘ment on Tariffs and Trade.6 PR JANUARY-MARCH 1995 Words, Words, Words bared” on December 2 last year. All the other dailies gave similar “President Ramos announced prominent treatment ro, and essen- yesterday the surge of the gross tally said the same about, this national product (GNP) and gross__economic report. ‘The reports diligently cited all percent and 5.1 percent. respec- _the pertinent statistics: “(Socio-Economic Planning them as sttong indicators of the Secretary) Habito said the economy country’s continuing economic actually grew by 4.9 percent in the growth and improving prospects” _first quarter and 5.6 percent in the “Thus stated the lead of the second quarter instead of the earlier banner story of the Manila Bulle- estimates of only 4.8 percent and. tin, “Dramatic groweh in GNP 5.4 percent respectively” (Manila Economy surgin domestic product (GDP) to 5.9 ‘ively, this third quarter, hailing By Fel V. Maragay and Ramon Tomeldan The country’s Gross National ded by-an average! 5.5 percentin therfirst hs. ofsther- year, abig jump from the 2.2 percent GNP growth registered in the same Planning Secretary Cielito Habit reported to President Ramos yesterday, uarter of 994 comparedt6 2.25 In theriett two. quskteretefithe Habitosaid the economyactu- first quarter and 5.6 percent in could attain 194 GNP growth rate in'veal terme of at least 5. thelast quarter of ofeach year Nisunly the best (or strongest af the four quarters” becouse of Periodlast year Socio-Economic PeWer vee conden; at, Christmas ceson, The Prete that the governments goal of w 2). per 5.9 in 3rd qtr. _Cent increase in exports, placed Habito. directorgeneralofthe | at $11 bilion in 1988, may be National Economicand Develop, exceeded, NEDATiguresohow that ment Authority, said preliminary ports went up by 15.8 percent, fstimatesafthe NatonslStatisth_ inthe fist quarter, 221 percent fal Coordination Board (NSCB), nthe second quarter and 274 showed that the GNRgrew by 5 percent in the third quarter of percentinséaltetms inthe third 1994. Meanwhile, Mr. Ramos sald eam qperiodlast tere reas abeolntay no truth to, : the media teporte that a oh AOA, drctr geal EF fe wee ft In can ssid updated datsjndicated hat because of the decine In ate VepeROREN SO TSCM Inge or Senne ceane J eare there caused bythe steady de ‘eat, magiactually.stYorgerthan preciation ol the dol i ‘initiallyestimated:. the peso. on “Nocnchastosthisjabihete~ ally grew by 4.9 percent in the the President told raboes ‘He sald based cin the reports thesecondaquarterinstead ofthe ofthe Department of Labo" and eater estates ol only 48 per. Employment theEspors Process entandS 4 percent respectively. ingore Aonty acta aed A his weehly press confer: themayorol Macca, about §000 ence, the President said these, to9.008nen jbssouldn acti sist) would indleste UTM, Created wine on Monitor Standard) “The domestic economy buoyed by over-all optimism in the business sector reacted favorably posting 5.1% in che third quarter vis a vis 4.5% in the second quarter and only 2.7% in the same period last year." (Manila Chronicle) ‘And afier the statistics, the news also dutifully reported the assess- ments In the Chronicle."On the whole, the economy is responding positively to the government’ cfforts at macroeceonomic stability and to the other economic policy reforms geared towards export-led industrialization. “From a policy standpoint, itis thus advisable to maintain the course)” Economic Planning secretary and director-general of the ‘National Economic and Develop- ment Authority (Neda) Cielito Habito reported to President Ramos, In BusinessWorld, “Because of the rosy third quarter data, President Ramos yesterday expressed confi dence Government will overshoot its original 1994 GNP target of 5.0% and hit 5.5%.” But to the reading public, what do all these figures and big words mean? It’s great that the newspapers are giving economic news prime space, but maybe some effort is needed to make such news more underseand- able. Since this economic report was treated as front-page news and not placed in the more specialized business pages, it should have been written more to the understanding of the layman who most probably would not be as familiar with the rudiments of business or economics. How does this reported growth.in economy translate to more concrete terms? In what ways would the consumer feel this growth? Will there be a change in the prices of goods and services? Will it have a subsequent effect on the consumer's quality of life? The reports, however, were not much help on these questions. Wrong Headline A fiont-page headline in TODAY last February 18 was in grave conflice with is story While the headline read “Hormone in vaccine can cause abortions’? the story reported findings to the contrary. The lead stated, “The antitetanus vaccines used in the government's immunization cam- paign contain “insignificant traces’ of the sex hormone that Church, and lay leaders claim could cause abortions, a test done by the Makati Medical Center showed.” Although the report said the test conducted was not an official study by MMG, it added thar “(he Department of Health has received results of the test. and acknowledged she “purity and safety of the vac~ ines? a claim upheld by the Would Health Organization.” Some mistakes can be charged to experience, but some can have serious implications. ‘As Rina Jimenez-David of the Philippine Daily Inquirer noted in her February 23 column, “Ie takes only a rumor, or wild accusations in the media, to destroy years of work creating a positive atticude towards the very idea of immunization.” JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PR 7 Asking the Principal Last December 31, the newspa pers published Senator Edgardo, ‘Angara’s announcement that basket- ball player Robert Jaworski would run for senator under the Lakas~ Laban coalition party. However, several days after on January 3, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and TODAY reported that Jaworski would not be running after all. The following day more dailies reported the samme. ‘These reports, running counter to the formal announcement of Angara, cited as their source an official of La Tondetta, the basketball team where Jaworski is playing coach. The reports did not indicate that the official was speaking on behalf of Jaworski While the news quoted this official as saying thar Jaworski had told him he was not interested in running for office, the reports aso carried Angara’s reaction strongly insisting that Jaworski had agreed 10 “We talked one-on-one and he agreed, He made me believe that he was convinced. [ did not use his name without permission,” several chiles quoted Angara For almost a week from the time the story first saw print, newspapers reported the news without actually getting to che heart of the matter: was Jaworski going to run? But readers would have won- dered, why didn’t anybody ask the ‘man himself The reports had two sources saying two different things, yet nobody bothered to contact, Jaworski to get the real score. ‘The news did not indicate if efforts were being exerted to get a statement from the player. They also failed to say whether he had simply refused to comment if indeed they had tied to reach him, ‘While this was going on in the news pages, Philippine Star columnist Max Solven managed to get the statement which should have made it to che news first: “I'm. running all right, but only on the basketball court.” (Star, January 3) This from Jaworski himself who, from the accounts of Soliven, didn’t seem at all hesitant co talk about the Jaworski’ personal denial that he was not participating in the elections only came out in the news on January 7 in che Philippine Daily Inquirer. An Inquirer reporter got hold of Jaworski while he was working out with his team. Jaworski’s official statement came out in the news in all the other dailies on January 98 PR JANUARY-MARCH 1995 Monitor Lim Vs. Lopez ‘The Philippine Daily Inquirer's metro page declared January 26 a day for candidates. ‘The upperfold swory “Lopez brands Lim a killer” however, focused more on the warring personalities and merely skimmed the surface of the issues raised by both the Lim and Lopez eamps. Setting the tone, the lead went, “Mel Lope? fired the opening shot and called Mayor Alfredo Lim an executioner (Berdugo ng Maynila’) yesterday to unofficially start the battle between the two rivals for the mayorship of Manila.” Lope7 took up Inquirer's news space as he went on a charging binge, which, however, did not provide substantive details in sup- port. After his accusations against his rival, Lopez, of course, cited his own accomplishments daring his term as mayor. On the lowerfold.““Berdugo’ enjoys tremendous edge” an unbylined report, read more like a press release than a news report. ‘This report in fact repeated information from the first story. The remaining details could very well have been integrated with the same story. Lopez brands 7 4 Lima killer Mayor also accused of messing up funds, | failing to keep peace and order in the city wie ee Beas cae ameBitter Rice ‘The need for information is specially more pronounced when issues on public health are involved ‘When rice, the staple food of the nation, was reported as having, been “laced with cyanide,” the concern the news generated was thus more than justified. The news broke with repeated assurances by government officials thar the rice imported from Thailand and fumigated with hydrogen cyanide was safe for human con- sumption. “(Agriculture Secretary Robert) Sebastian said the Bureau ‘of Plant Industry found that the affected shipment had a hydrogen cyanide content of 0.89 part per million, The acceptable level is 75, ppm, he said.” (Malaya, January 24) ‘With the Senate conducting an inquiry into the sale of the contami- nated rice, the assurances given by these officials involved were to most readers suspect. Public anxiety thus remained, and the blame-shifting that followed among government agencies did not help any, ‘These agencies included the Department of Agriculture, the National Food Authority, the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Fentilizer and Pesticide Authority, and the National Quarantine Office. A medical assessment from the Department of Health, or ffom the ‘World Health Organization, would have been significant, but the DOH did not figure in the news, except for the involvement of the NQO, an attached agency. Such assessment was greatly. needed after non-governmental ‘organizations presented studies contradicting the safety claims of JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PyR 9 officials involved in the fumigation, ‘The Manila Chronicle re- ported on January 26 that “The ‘encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety places the maxi- mum HCN (hydrogen cyanide) dosage at 10 paris per million or 11 milligrams per cubic meter. The US maximum dosage is set at 5 mill: ‘grams per cubic meter. “However, by its own admis- sion, NFA said the Thai rice ship- iment was treated with an HCN dosage of 2 grams (approximately 2000 milligrams) per cubic meter, way above the average world dosige ceiling, the PPI said.” Part of a series of in-depth stories by Philippine News and se oe Features in TODAY on January 29 also reported that “As a rule, the government checks imported rice only for possible pests, not for chemicals. Ie could be laced with any of several harmful substances and sill be released into the market, eventually to find its way to your dining table.” ‘The reports would have been more effective and informative had they sought independent health or medical opinion apart from the claims of the involved government agencies and the counterclaims of NGOs like the Philippine Peasant Institute, widely known for its disagreements with the Department of Agriculture. Sananina Resu. dosage of cyanide could create desta Tuam aed ‘The fumigation , Tuazon also ssi, was necessary in ont n= see infestation. ‘oct ieee | import saying “profi was the ‘motive behind tis actor. Estrella Tuazon, chef of the ‘cyahide than aime Ge ispact her soar ‘hose precenanthe ‘Bored read expan. ‘Bu twee mitt opanzatoes, aggre nt appeased bythe ice presence of oie pt pe ion on te saps fom bags was below the lethal dosage ‘whichis about 90 PPM content and the ent The ‘experts’ declaration, charged off- ‘al of te National Food Aliterity Department of Agriculture, articularly Secretary Roberto of peghgence fr allowing ofthe hamigated ce pene pope Oe10 PR JANUARY-MARCH 1995 By JOJO DASS AND LEA BOTONES four Suépecto'in the daylight ambush of former police Chief Insp. Jose Pring, ‘even as his family expressed fear of re- cals “lawmen” wh Bede. ‘The ABB has repeated) ity for the killing * Angulo; howerer, re ames ofthe suspects. Pring was gunned down] ing By JIMMY PEREZ Report RELATIVES~and: frierids’ of slain‘po- lice officer Jose:Pring. yesterday said some, wealthy. Chinese-Filipino busi- nessmen may have been behind the ‘Ling. x FEE in wo ees ney si ‘bounty may have’ been put up'by the busi- Ressmen to climinate police and government officials perceived to be protecting kidnap-for= ransom syndicates. ‘Ate Wester Police District heagquartes in ‘Manila, investigators are verifying :reports that ‘a. group of wealthy: Chinese-Filiping vigilantes has fuse the fund as early as 1992, when’ Pring and iis colleague." Chief Insp. Timoteo Zarcal, were gested By Vico President and Presidential Ant ‘Crime Commission chairman Joseph Estrada, Pring and Zarcal were arrested and later charged for ther alleged involvement with «kide ap-fo-ransom s “Because investigators refuse to believe that tne [communist] Alex Bencayso Brigade was be- hing the killing despite the acmission of that 4r0up, then the bounty saized by some Chinese- Flipiro viglanes may be the key o te solution "a senior WPD inve! Chief Insp: Pedro Angulo,” _~_tsion chief'said some suspect assassination. The caller adc Enforcement Division head, “Margallo Ill, would be the next “The unidentified caller Other deve! pre + Prng’s famnly has ceplore lice officers in the area where crime scene, but several passer ‘who rushed her husband to the ho * Reacting to spreading tur, ‘may have had know! spokesman Ieasiano Gutierrez 84) ‘mere “black propeganda™ being politicians “whose patented sc the truth for sensational and caled Monitor Media Hype On December 19, the Manila Times’ banner story, “Pring killers identified,” tured out to be a lot Of hype over nothing, In fact, news people have a term for such stories If Times readers expected to be informed on developments about the suspects in the case of slain former police chief Joe Pring, they were sorely disappointed. The only thing the entire story said about the “identified” “killers” was chat Westem Police District authorities were verifying if they were members ofthe Alex Bonczyio Brigade, and that their identities were being withheld. ‘The reports did not even explain how the suspects had been “identified,” and who “identified” them, TODAY's banner on the same chy, “New theory in Pring slay” headlined 4 more substantive story on the developments in the Pring case ‘The report said, “Relatives and friends of slain police officer Jose Pring yesterday said some wealthy CChinese-Filipino businessmen may haye been behind the killing. “Pring’s kin, who requested anonymity, said 2 bounty may have been put up by the businessmen to eliminate police and government officials perceived to be protecting kidnap-for-ransom syndicates, “At the Westem Police District headquarters in Manila, investigators are verifying reporss that a group of wealthy Chinese-Filipino vigilan- tes has put up the find as early as 1992, when Pring and his col- league, Chief Insp. Timoteo Zarcal, were arrested by Vice President and Presidential Anci-JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PR 11 Crime Commission chaicman had cattier ordered maximum, ‘TODAY had on fiont pages 2 Joseph Bserada” tolerance for GATT demonsra~ story about eight Iranians barred tions. fiom entering the country because ‘The photo, it tumed out, raised of irregularities in their travel Red-Handed enough outrage from the public to documents, Except for the Jour- cause the 15-day suspension of the nal, the rest had the story as Photo-joumalist Cosar gun-toting policeman, identified as bamers ‘Tomambo’s photograph in the SPO1 Ireneo Sorience, The following day, six dailies Manila Chronicle not only followed up on the subsequent documented an event, but gener- deportation of the Iranians, These ated just and appropriace action as Unfair Treatment included che Star, the Journal, well the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the (On December 8, Tomambo’s Practically all the Manih ‘Manila Standard, the Manila Jens caught red-handed a police- newspapers filed to give fair Chronicle, and Malaya. man drawing his gun while dispers- treatment to several foreigners ‘The Chronicle, the Journal, ing students rallying against the deporced by the Bureau of limi the Inquirer, and Malaya even ratification of the General Agree- gration last January played up the disturbance at the ment on Tariffi and Trade On Janvary 6, the Philippine airport caused by the reactions of (GAT). Star, the Philippine Journal, the the angry foreigners to mediamen, This when President Ramos ‘Times, Malaya, and Among the accounts, only that a ! the rallyists who tried to’ padiock the} gates. * Photo by CESAR TOMANBO dl {front of the US embassy. Police used tear gas to embessy’2 Py JANUARY-MARCH 1995 of the Standard carried a state ‘ment from a representative of the detained foreigners disclaiming allegations that they were going to disrupt the visit of the Pope. “It is very sad that we are being used as scapegoats. We didn’t have anything on us to show wwe are killers out to get the Pope and anyone who stands in our way.” the Standard quoted the representative. A week after, on January 13, the Department of Foreign Affairs in fact “expressed its regrets to Iran for curning away eight of its nationals...” However, only the Times, the Standard, and the Inquirer reported this development. ‘Again, it was only the Stan- dard which printed the side of the deported foreignes Ie repotted, “The franian embassy in Manila said che Bureau of Immigration denied access to Iranian officials who wanted to confer with their detained country- ‘men at the airport last January 7. The embassy noted that while it was barred from seeing the Irani- ans, the local media were allowed to do 30, ‘The embassy also lashed out s create tiouble abNATA GROUPiofidepontéd Irantans questioning by im agents claimed 1 be tourists Immigration officers became Monitor at the media for reporting that the eight Iranians were detained on suspicion that they were out to harm Pope Paul II during his visit here. It turned out that the Iranians were turned away due to irregularities in their pass- Ports (underscoring provided)” Contradictory? ‘The Manila Chronicle's January 2 banner story “16 dead, '800 hurt in New Year revelry” contradicted a related story on the same page. ‘The banner story reported, “(On the metropolis, the number of New Year revelry victims dropped sharply compared with 1993, according to reports of police and hospitals. “Statistics showed the coll was down by 70%... “Despite this, however, five were hit by stray bullets, one of them fatal, while 296 were injured during the New Year celebration (underscoring provided)” “Written as a separate story, “Gun firing in celebration reduced” said, "Stray bullets from guns fired by New Year revellers—civilians and uniformed men—neither claimed any life nor hurt any one in the northern part of Metro Manila(underscoring provided)” ‘There may actually have been no contradiction, however. The five victims of stray bullets from “the metropolis” may not have been residents of ‘the northern part of Metro Manila”. But the New Year would certainly have began on a less confusing note had the two stories been combined. ©Deputy Frime Ministor of Malaysian “Anwar lovahi adatessing a grous of ‘businessman at a ‘media forum Mele in Morita last Decamber 9. Fromright: DPM ower bohm: Dean Faliberto de Jess of the AM Paty Forum: Rou Locsin, Pubisher ong Editor oF BusinessWorld: and Bean luis ¥. Teodoro of UP CMC. e PN Towards a New Journalism Model Addhess by Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia at the Forurn on the "Press, Polifics ond Development,” convened by the Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility with the AlM Policy Forum and. the UP College of Mass Communication at the Shangrtia Hotel, Manila, December 9, 1994, BY ANWAR IBRAHIM mong the institutions of civil society, the Press is pethaps the most influential in setting the agenda for progress for a democracy. Indeed very few institutions have the kind of hold on the hearts and minds of the people as that possessed by the media. Authoritarian figures, on their part, are even more sentient of the power of the Press, and employ every means at their disposal to en- sure that it is always servile and submissive. A free society must always be vigilant against chose who seek to perpetu- ate their dominance by maintaining a stranglehold on the Press14 PR JANUARY-MARCH 1995 In this regard, the people of the Philippines deserve cour sincere admiration in their constant struggle to fortify the foundations of a free society. More than arty others in ‘our region they have had to endure successive ordeals on the road to democracy. Jose Rizal did not give up his life in vain for his spirit continues to inspire the generations of his compatriots after him. Reihold Neibuhr, one of the great minds of this century, once said: “Man’s capacity for justice makes de- moeracy possible, bat man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.” The greatest challenge to democ- racy in developing societies is not merely to maintain the ‘external features of democratic governance, but rather to, censure that it consandy serves the best interest of the people. Democracy may ofien be supplanted by anarchy 1 WS Vv. TEODORO hose who expected to hear fom Anwar Ibrahim, Finance and Deputy Prime Minister of Malay- sia, the usual message that freedom and democ- racy are hindrances to development were surprised to hear something else last Friday. But others in attendance familiar with leahim’s ‘other statements—in the New York and Hongkong. fo- ums on press freedom he had addressed recently, for ‘example—werent. Before Ibrahim spoke it was in fact already being. speculated that Malaysia was loosening controls over me- dia, including the press—and that Ibrahim, the hkely successor of Prime Minister Muhammed Mahathir (Mahathir isin his late 60s; brahim is 47), was its archi- tweet. In many respects the anti-thesis of the exuberant and often licentions Philippine press, the Malaysian press is burdened by licensing laws (journalists are licensed annually) as well 2s cough Internal Security Act, under the provisions of which newspaper people could be and. have been detained and newspapers shut down. Ibrahim, speaking at Shangri-La Hotel during a forum on The Press, Democracy and Development sponsored by the Center for Media Freedom and Re- sponsibility with the cooperation of the Asian Insitute cr by ineffectual governance. A democratic government may be nothing more than what George Bernard Shaw described as one which “substitutes election by the in- competent many for appointment by the corrupt few.” If democracy isto be truly the means to empower the people, then it must be prevented from becoming a mere stage for the power play of the elite, with total disregard for the aspirations of the people. Political life m a democracy should not be realized (in the words of Vaclav Havel) “not as the art of the useful but as practical morality, as service to the truth.” The progress and success of a country’s democratic polity must be measured by. among other things, the num- ber of fumilies freed from the dungeons of poverty and desirution. Social and economic uplifiment would noc Veiled Criticism ‘of Management and the UP College of Mass Communi- cation also told his audience of Malaysian and Philippine government officials as well as media persons that “fie society must always be vigilant against those who seck to perpetuate their dominance by maintaining stranglehold ‘on the press.” Rather than the usval Jook-how-freedom-has-cost- you-development lecture, Ibrahim expressed “sincere ad- miration” for“the people of the Philippines in their con stant struggle to fortify the foundations of a free society’ Ibrahim alo singled our the Philippine press “as the ‘most vigorous and tenacious [in the region] in protecting its imegrity and ficedom.” Bur his criticism of Western ‘media as well as his description of how ficedom has often been misused was also an implied criticism of the the press, Philippine version. In the open forum that followed. Ibrahim disagreed ‘with the notion, of which the most vocal and tenacious advocate has been Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, that there has to be a trade-off between democracy and develop- ment. In his opinion it was not true, said Ibrahim, the de- mocracy has been the main hindrance to Philippine de- velopment—at least not in the seuse that it encourages constant bickering and paralysis.be possible without sustainable economic growth. Thus, the economic policy of a democratic government must be pro-business, promoting investment and entrepreneur- ship. Such a policy is often unpopular but necessary. However, promoting growth is not synonymous with giv- ing a blank cheque to big businesses and conglomerates who, by promoting only their vested interests, give the pro-business policy 2 bad name. We need to promote genuine entrepreneurship, small and medium scale ven- tures, productive investments and to increase the supply of goods and services. Rapid growth often enough Jeads to disparities and. when these disparities become so wide, economic and social apartheid sets in. ‘This is most repugnant to our moral sense. Thus, on political as well as moral grounds, It is “totally incorrect,” he said to believe that ith a ‘zero-s:1m game, in which developing countries either have democracy or development, never both, In hisaddress, Ibrahim had emphasized ehat “for present day governments to persevere in the obstinate curtailment of pres freedom is a course which would eventually lead to political suicide “Lbelieve.” he said, that “the days of effective censor ship and control of the media are numbered.” Ie would be “against the spirit of the times” to con tinue press repression, he said, aside fom the fact that technological development has made “the old instruments of censorship and control virtually powerless.” Ibrahim was in effect arguing for press freedom in Southeast Asia. But he had harsh words as well as for the kkind of freedom most prevalent in the West which “is ex excised in the pursuit of mediocrity and philistinism,’ that sneers at “intellectual discourse,” and which becomes a license for “the promotion of all that is trivial and frivo- lous” If thats a veiled criticism of the Philippine press, it ‘would be tovally deserved The exercise of freedom so the press may be, in Ibrahim’s words, “the podium for the encounter of ideas and opinions as well as the catalyst for the emancipation ‘ofthe mind from mediocrity” hasn't exactly been the hall- ‘mark of the Philippine press, which in most instances has indeed exercised its freedom to propagate the trivial and fFivolous—as well 2s 10 sensationalize and distort. Having achieved a large measure of ficedom,the true JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PR 15 the promotion of growth cannot be sanctioned without adequate policies to promote social justice, The magic of the invisible hand of the market must be supplemented by If democracy is to be truly the means to empower the people, then it must be prevented from becoming a mere stage for the power play of the el the workings of the visible hand of affirmative action, challenge to the Philippine press is in fact to make that freedom meaningful: to harness, still in the words of Ibrahim, “societal energies towards the realization of cherished ideals:justice, vireue and compassion,” as well as progress and a bester life for all. This means having a purpose for that freedom more sustainable than just sell- ing mote newspapers or boosting one’s ratings. Which is, in the end, both a valid expectation as vwellas 2 necessary one. What's odd is that its expression should have come, not from a Filipino co whom the responsibilities as well as the rights of fee men and women should be ax familiar as the sim, but fom a Malaysian, Aside ffom how our own leader's blabbering inco- hherence suffers in comparison to the coherent view of governance other Asian leaders like Ibrahim have, the cother impression one came away with after the forum ‘was not any less disturbing. Ic was the possibility chat, emerging fiom decades of regulation, Malaysia is likely t0 have a better appre ciation of the meaning and responsibilities of freedom than the one country which, except for a relatively brief ‘period, has had the trappings of freedom for so long its people take it for granted, You know which country that is. THis an exoanded version of the authors reaction to Daputy Bima Minister Anwea! forahimns access Repxintedt fom the Mania Times, Dec, 13.1954,16 PR JANUARY-MARCH 1995 The growth of civil society, democracy and social con- sciousness has always been coterminous with the devel- ‘opment of the Press. ‘The role of the Press will continue to be to hold, as it were, the micror up vo society. Its infirmities and imperfections must neither be concealed 1 RAUL LOCSIN Freedom is Essential to the Press emocratic theory says that the press is a broad marketplace in JD which many voicesare represented. Butin most developing coun- ties, what happens is that the concentration of wealth is in the hands ofa few. So what you have is that only the people who can afford vo do put up newspapers so thar you don’t have that sort of broad represen tation in which everybody has a voice mn the marketplace. So ifthe people who can afford it put up the newspapers, they must have the resources. And what you have here isa bunch of oligopolisss representing what you call the free press. Ifyou have a more egalitarian saciety, however, everybody can put up a newspaper and thar newspaper would indeed represent the whole com- ‘munity. So I think we should leave to goveminent and to business the fimc~ tion of correcting the disparities and when the disparities are corrected then you can expect that the press shall be more fair, and shall indeed reflect the opinions of the community as a whole The other thing is a matter of freedom. A lot of people say that in developing countries, the press must be responsible, chat itis a function of the press to participate and. t0 see to itthat seciety must grow and it must grow up properly rather than put obstacles before it, From my standpoint as a journalist, | feel that fieedom in itself is ‘essential in the exercise of the press. If you do not have that fieedoms, it negates the basic value of speech. If you cannot express what you feel, then you have no voicg if you have no voice then you are not part of the community of men, you are not part of a democratic system, you are not patt of your society if you don’t have that freedom to speak. That’ why in ‘most constitutions, che free press is guaranteed by the Bill of Righs. Of course there ate different ways of looking at it in different countries, The priorities come into play.But the notion of having half freedom isa litele bit something that doesn’t wash very well. Like if you're hal-free it just like saying that you're half-truthfal, is almos like saying that you're half= pregnant. There’ no stich thing: So [ feel that freedom is essential to the press | —eacton fo Das ire Miter Anima rohin’s aces on Docomber 1994" nor magnified, ts strengths and virtues justly and fairly reflected, neither obscured nor embellished. The problem of Press. control has always been pro- jected to be the problem of developing societies. How- ever, as Noam Chomsky has demonstrated, the problematique of the Press is nat con- fined to societies like ours, Censor- ship of the coverage of the Gulf War in the Western media is now a well established fact. here is the role of the mass media in industrial societies in assiduously “manufacturing consent” and achiev ing “thought control” to serve the powers that be. Thus, information is no longer used t promote critical judgment, but to reinforce popular beliefi, prejudices and stereotypes by constant bombardment as well assub= liminal indoctrination, Societies in Asia will ako continue to debate on Press freedom. Because ofthe awesome power it possesses the Pres is often viewed with great trepi dation, Napoleon Bonaparte was re ported to have said: “Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than. a thousand bayonets” Thus any re~ gime which is grounded on shaky political and moral foundations always seeks to muzzle the Press. However, wwe should also hasten to temind our- selves, that for present-day govern: ments 10 persevere in obstinate cur tailment of Press freedoms isa course which would eventually lead to po- litical suicide, [ believe, to all intents and purposes, the days of effective cen- sorship and control of the media are numbered. First, the idea of open ness and transparency has take in our societies and a step backwards would be a move against the spirit of the times. Secondly, the revolution in communication technology has al ready rendered the old instruments of Press censorship and control vireually powerless. But, most significantly. the people themselves will regard the con- Our main concernJANUARY-MARCH 1995 Py 17 The Press in the Philippines stands out among those in Southeast Asia as the most vigorous and tenacious in protecting its integrity and freedom. tinued muzzling of the Press as the very embodiment of ‘tyramy and oppression undermining the findamental lib- erties essential 0 a civil society. This in curn will inevita~ bly lead to the overthrow of the perpetrators Be that as it may, in some developing countries, the ‘medias complaints about constraint and control are more often than not the result of their own imaginings. It is instructive that the thoughts and ideas that have survived and withstood the test of time were expresied by coura- _geous people who risked their lives in times when speech, was dangerous and censorship was the rule rather than the exception. Alas,in our own day, when Press freedom is, virtually a reality, that ficedom is offen exercised in pur= suit of mediocrity and philistinism. To my mind the more feuitfal debate is not so mach abont freedom from cen- sorship, but rather the need for the media to emerge as the podium for the encounter of ideas and opinions as well as the catalyst for the emancipation of the mind from medi- ctity. In some cases, superficiality and mediocrity has become so pervasive that intellectual discourses are sneered at and viewed with contempt. This is uly a betrayal of the journalistic ideal, or itis inconceivable that the raison dctre for Pres fcedom is to provide a license for the promotion of all that is trivial and frivolous. OF course, the media cannot run away from the basi- ness ofthe day, that is reporting events and covering issues with fairness and objectivity. Admittedly fairness and ob- jectivity depends to a certain extent on the ownership of « particular media institution, be it the government, po- litical parties or even a business tycoon. But itis not so much the ownership of the media which is crucial here. Rather, it is the manipulation of the media by vested and selfish interests who have no regard whatsoever for trath, fuirness,or any other ethical and moral consideration. And this manipulation they sometimes perform by an insidi~ ous process of imposing their will by remote control, 25 it were. Icis therefore incumbent om the professional jour nalists themselves to have the moral courage and convic~ tion to resist the temptations laid before them. In the final analysis, the media must scrive to tran- scend these self-serving interest, They must break away from the culture of mediocrity in order to foster a robust intellectual life and a fulfilling cultural environment. In this respect, the Press in the Philippines stands out among those in Southeast Asia as the most vigorous and tena- cious in protecting its integrity and freedom. Ochers are watching closely how the Press here would develop and the direction it would take in exercising its hard earned freedom. It will be most inspiring if it succeeds in insti~ tuting a new model of journalism, departing from the conventional precepts and practices. Press freedom should not be used to give rein to the venting of secrarian senti- ments, the manipulation of ricial prejudices and religions bigotry, and the fabrication of lies. The model that we envisage is that of a fiee Press but committed to socictal ideals and the enduring values in our traditions. We stress commitment precisely because freedom without commit ment will strip the Prese of ite sense of direction. ‘The Western Press is certainly free, but it has been drifting aimlessly for want of such commitment, which also re= {cers the state ofits own society. Rather than thriving on sensationalism, acrimony, mudslinging, and stirring up animosities, our Press should seek to harness societal en engies towards the realization of cherished ideals: justice, virtue and compassion. ‘These are the challenges thrown before us. Our media must take up the gauntlet and,in so doing, herald the beginning of the Asian renaissance. Thank you @18 Py JANUARY-MARCH 1995 They all meant well What they all wanted was to beam to every home the news of the coming of the Pope. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines wanted a complete and comprehensive coverage of the Pope’ visit. Tivo televisi networks were only more than willing to invest the resources to respond to what they wanted. But good intentions do not abvays turn out as they should, and together with the blessings of the Holy Father, discord managed to creep into the airwaves as well as irto the homes of the faithful. ‘ewspaper commentaries well before the arrival of the Pope had fanned rumors in media mills that all was not well between GMA and ABS- CBN on the Papal coverage. ABS-CBN did not take t00 kindly to the CBCP’: decision to anoint GMA as official television car rier of the Papal visit (anuary 12-16) and the World Youth Day celebra~ tions ABS-CBN raised questions on the CCE selection process. for the official coverage, including the bid- ding and marketing rights, the grant- ing of exclusivity of live coverage 10 the official carrier, the legitimacy of the contract between CBCP and GMA, and even possible encroach- ments on the freedom of the pres. ‘As public anticipation grew on the visi,the conflict between the two networks appeared to grow with nearly equal intensity. It was a case of media on media as the story made it into the news, as press statements were released and exchanged, as columnists rook sides, and as letters of “clarifi- cation” saw print, ‘The media drama heightened as ABS-CBN persisted on covering live the arrival of the Pope simultaneous with GMA, but seemed to climax with che announcement that ABS~ CBN was withdrawing from farther live coverage a day after. Bur the controversy did not end there, Even after the Pope had left and the media event had ended, many «questions remained unanswered, “We have decided to keep silent Tes a network war and we were caught in the middle Father Aris Sison, head of the CBCP- Papal Visit Central Commu. nications Committee, gave this state ment to PJR after he refused to give any more comments on the issucs raised by ABS-CBN. Yer it was not simply a “network war? T controversy cannot simply be dismissed as a typical misunder- standing between two rival networks. CBCP played a role more prominent in this imbroglio than what it was OVER THE AIRWAVES prepared to admit. ‘Wuat Biwpinc? After ABS-CBN questioned how CBCP chose the official carrier, the later, in a statement, said, “In mid- 1994, we held an open bidding among, several broadcast networks for the rights to cover and market these com. ing events, As a result of the exercise we awarded the rights to cover and market both the World Youth Day and Papal Visit ‘95 co GMA Channel 7 for television2This statement was signed by Bishop Teodoro Bu head of the Finance Committee. ABS-CBN, however, maintains that what transpired was not a bidding Red Reyes, ABS-CBN Senior VP for News and Public Affairs, ex- “We held an open jidding among several broadcast networks for the rights to cover and market these coming events.” plained that Father James Reuter ap- proached each TV network carly ast year and asked for their capacity to mount a coverage and the respective costs. Ric Puno, ABS-CBNVice Presi- dent for News and Public Afairs, std, “I wasn't a bidding. What you have in a bidding is chat you have terms ofBY FLORIAN M. TARCELO reference.You know exactly what you are bidding, on, what exactly are the terms of reference for that particular bid.” Puno also sought to correct mis leading reports and commentaries comparing the P10 million quoted by ABS-CBN and the P25 million of GMA which have been quoted from two entirely different contexts He explained, “CBCP called ‘Channel 2 and other channels to dis- cuss the matter. At chat time, the ques- tion that was thrown co channels was this How much would you charge for mounting a coverage of the papal visit? Sabi ne Channel 2. P10 mil- lion. Sabi np Channel 7, P8 milion. OK, on thatlevel,panalo sila, But what ‘was being discussed then was not how much CBCP would be paid, but how much the channel would be paid. At shat level, OK lang; Channel 7 really had the lower quotation. That’s why itwas really not a bidding. Ie was simn- ply a solicitation of quotations. It wasn'ta bidding. What you have im 2 bidding is, you have the terms of the bid, you have terms of reference...” Antonio Seva, GMA Senior VP for News and Public Affairs, said, “Whether you call sta bid ora pro- posal, the fact is, there was 2 selection process.” He further said that i was clear to them that they were partici- pating in the election when they sub- mitted their proposal Fr, Reuter, member of the Communications Committee, confirmed in an interview with PJR thatthe proposalshe solicived from the stations were used as one of the bases for the choice of the official: carrie. (On May 5 last year, chis commiccee decided on Channel 7as the official carrier and recommended its choice to the Central Committee, the lead committee in the papal event, The Central Committee later approved the recommendation. MarketinG Nor INCLUDED But what about the P25 million? ‘This is where different stories are told In its statement, CBCP said the bidding it conducted was both for marketing and coverage. Seva con- firmed that when they were asked co make a proposal, marketing rights were indeed included, Thus the me dia reports of the P25 million. ‘This figure corresponds to the amount GMA would “donate” co the CBCP aficr it was awarded the coverage and murketing rights, Seva sad. Puno, however, denied that the proposal asked of ABS-CBN inciuded ‘marketing, “Channel 7 had the marketing contract, ABS-CBN was never asked to make an offer, to match the P25 million, to improve it, because we may have been able to improve it. Reyes said, “(It was our under- standing with Fr. Reuter that since we were charging them airtime, the Church was fee to solicit TV com- mercials and sponsors for the cover- age. Conceivably, the Church ean generate advertising revenues worth more than the P25 million GMA-7 had promised to the CBCP. Anyway, it was not made clear at that time who was going to do the marketing. The concept of the official carrier being awarded the exclusive marketing con- tract and gaving CBCP a fixed amount from the advertising revenues was not discussed with Fr. Reuter” Fr, Reuter confirmed that the proposili he solicited from the net works only included the cost of cov rage; marketing rights were not part of the quotations This explanation20 Py JANUARY. MAR.CH 1998 supports the claims of ABS-CBN and contradicted the CBCP statement. Fr Reuter explained that the ini tial plan was for CBCP 10 do its own, smarketing.This plan was sil in effect when GMA was chosen official car- He added, however, that plans changed when the marketing arm of CBCP withdrew. Fr. Reuter identi- ficd Antonio Mercado, a member of the Communications Committee, as in charge of marketing, Reuter said Mercado resigned on May 25 for health reasons With Mereado’s resignation and limited time left for further arrange- ments, Fr Reuter said CBCP felt m= capable of handling marketing, Hav- ing already decided on GMA.as offi- cial carrier, the Finance Commitee then also granted the marketing rights to GMA. The deal was reversed. Because marketing now belongs to GMA, it would have to pay CBCP insicad of the original set-up where CBCP pays the station for coverage. The pieces ofthe complex puzzle seemed to be falling into place — until PJR checked with the office of Mercado at Basic Advertsing Connie Balmaceda, executive assistant to Mercado, spoke on his behalf and firmly denied that Mercado was ever made to handle the marketing of the papal coverage. Balmaceda said Mexeado was indeed pare of the Com- ‘cations committee but not in charge of marketing. “Our involve- ment with the Papal visi¢ was very brief” she said. Ir’s a Dear CBCP and GMA. signed a con- tract where CBCP awarded the cov- erage and marketing, rights of the ‘World Youth Day events and the Pa- palVisit co GMA, Bur this contract ako provided for {and later ised the hueand cry over) exclusivity of live coverage. ABS~ CBN tefused to recognize the con- tract signed by the CBCP and GMA. Reyes said that“ (n)either the Philip- pine government nor the ABS-CBN_ is a party” to the said contract. Puno said, “If there's a contract between CBCP and Channel 7, wel, isa contract between them. It doesn’t cover us, especially when public rev- enue is being utilized. And I think it's a bad precedent, Fr, Reuter stressed that it was the Finance Committee which negotiated “1 think we made our point, and having made it, we didn't want to belabor it.” IG cH the contract and granted the exclusive telecast rights to GMA. In fact, he said,he did not even see the contract. Hie farther said chat there were no talks of exclusivity when the (Communications Commiztee decided torecommend GMA as official carie. ‘This claim is supported by the minutes of their May 5 meeting which clearly stated, “As official network, (Channel 7) shall have priority in camera positioning only. It does not have exclusivity of coverage” Fr. Reuter said he was not sur- prised about the disharmony caused by the exclusivity granted to GMA. He added that he would have dis- agreed had the Communications Commitee been made part of the de- cision.“ Bur then we would have been back to square one, and we were pressed for time.” He also said,""The Finance pte was acting on good faith. They were simply doing their job. The F- nance Committee didn't realize it would have this effect; you have t0 understand, they are not media people” ‘When PJR asked Seva if GMA requested for the exclusivity clause in the contract, he said,“In television it goes without saying. If you're the official cartier, you have the live tele cast rights....Ang exclusive lang naman 3s the live telecast. All the local broadcasters can secure from us a video...for use in their programs...” AND It’s A FREE PRESS But ABS-CBN didn't want to borrow tapes;it didn’t want to hook up with GMA, “We wanted to do live coverage because we felt that that was some- thing that we were not only entitled to do; we were obligated to do that because this was a historic event, this was « national event,’ Puno stressed. ‘Thus immediately after CBCP te- leased the guidelines on TV coverageoon January 4, effectively barring, live coverage fiom the site by any other station besides the official carrier, ABS-CBN felt the issue of press freedom was involved. “Our argument on press free- dom is as follows: it’s not only a pastoral visi;it’s a state visit‘The man is not only a figure for the Catholic Church but for the entire world He’s also a political figure, being head of state “How can two private entities control what can be done in public venues? If the Church wanted to do this and they wanted to do icin a pri- vate place like UST or San Carlos seminary, that’s fine. No problem be cause they control it; itt their prop- erty. but where they use Lumeta, where you use the PICC, where you use the airport.” Puno presented to PJR a copy of a Newsweek interview with Cardi- ral Sin where the Cardinal himself said that the visit is not only pastoral but a state visit as well (January 16, 1995). The CBCP statement (11 Jan) re- plied:"The CRCP are the organizers and hosts of the World Youth Day “95. JANUARY-MARCH 1995 Py 21 His Holiness is our guest for World. Youth Day. We are well within our rights to enter into any legal con- tract with any party for the services ‘we require. Seva, on the allegations of con- stitutional violations, said, “What “Our conscience is clear. We entered into a bidding agreement, we paid for the rights, it was awarded to us. We had a job to do...” about press freedom? Press freedom ‘was not curtailed. Everybody was ac~ credited. We were broadcasting it not only to the Philippines but eo the en: tire world. Anong issue ng press free dom don?” PostscripTs The Pope has left, and the dust seems to have settled, though harily, in the hectic world of media ABS-CBN ress its case “{ think we've made our point We did the arrival and then we pulled ‘out... for a simple reason: I think we made our point, and having made it we didn’t want t0 helabor it!"said Puno. GMA. felc it was their job, and a {job well done. “Our conscience is clear. We en tered into a bidding agreement. we paid for the rights it was awarded co us. We had a job to do and we didn’t want to be distracted by all of this..It will not benefit us any if we engage ina word war; it affects everybody. It affects the people working on the project it givesa bad name to the in- dustry” said Seva ‘And for the CBCP, ie’ over. “Eyerything was above board. Ev- erything tumed out wel...’ unfor~ tunate that people keep dredging up ugly things... said Henrietta de Villa executive secretary of the Central Commitee of the CBCP-Papal Visit 5. @22 PR JANUARY-MARCH 1995 Guest Opinion 1 SOLOMON M. HERMOSURA he media can just be that: a medium, which ae Webster defines as a channel of communi tion. As such, media are only bearers of infor mation, not speakers. Such is the case when a newspa- per prints a homily of the Pope, or a TV station broad- casts a mass celebrated by the Pope, in both cases with- out commentary. But the media can ako be a speaker, the source of information. Such is the case when media report an‘ event or comment on isstes.. Ondinarily, a media entity asserts freedom of ex- pression against the Government or the person subject, of its publication, not against the speaker, for whose speech the media entity merely acted as a bearer. (See New York Times Co. vs. United States, 403 US. 713 [1971]; Eastern Broadcasting vs. Dans, J. 137 SCRA 628 [1985]; Ayer Productions Pry. Led. vs. Judge Com pany, 160 SCRA 865 [1988}.) ‘An unusual case arose in relation to the recent p2~ pal visit, however. The Catholic Church apparently gave GMA-7 the exclusive right to broadcast live TV coverage of the Pa- pal activities. Nonetheless, ABS-CBN provided live TV coverage of some papal affairs, invoking the free dom of expression for its action. The question is: does the freedom of expression giant a media entity the right to act as the bearer of a speech over the objection of the speaker and the media entity which has been granted preferential right to be the bearer of the speech? Settled principles on freedom of expression pro- vvide the basis for a negative answer. The Catholic Church, the speaker through the Pope, had the right 9 regulate access to events involving the Pope. Freedom of expresion belongs primanily to the speaker. The freedom of expression of the bearers of a speech is secondary to that of the speaker. ‘The freedom of expression of the speaker includes the right mot to speak. (West Virginia State Board of Education- vs, Barnette, 219 US, 624) ‘That right in- Media vs. Media cludes the lesser right to regulate the publicity of, or limit access 0, the speech. The right to information has alo been involved 0 justify access to the papal activities. Bue the right cov ‘ers “matters of public concern” (1987 Constitution Article III Section 7), which are matters that concern the public asa. whole, such as “ffcial records”, “docu- ‘mens and papers pertaining to official act, transactions or decisions” (Legaspi vs. Civil Service Commission, 150 SCRA 530 [1987]: Tafiada vs. Tavera, 136 SCRA 27 [19851,) ‘What che Pope says or does may be a matter that concerns the multitude, but individually, not as a body. Fach ofthe millions who listened to the sermons of the Pope did so for his personal reason, possibly cach for his ‘own salvation, Moreover, the right of the people w information ‘on matters of public concern cannot be applied to in- formation within the personal control of a person, like the thoughts of the Pope In sum, the Catholic Church was the speaker of the information consisting of the papal speeches and activi- ties. It had the right to withhold the information oF regulate the means by which the information was com municated to the public, ke limiting those who could be bearers of the information. Butany media entity had the right to report or com- ment on the papal speeches and activities. Asa speaker, not aga mere bearer of information, a media entity can assert the freedom of expression on its own right. To stress the point: the Pavarotti concert at 2 gov- ernment-owned auditorium was a matier that concerned a mulkitude. But the organizers of the event had the right to regulate access to the concert and designate the media entities who could act as channels for the publi- cation of the concert. However, any media entity had the right to speak about, for, or against the concert ‘Atty. Soloman M. Heimosura is a partner 1 the Roco. Bunag, Kepuran, Migailes and Jardoleza Law Offco.JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PR 23. |G JOSE C. SISON Covering the Pope’s visit ‘exclusively’ | isputes arise because parties have divergent | ID views. Or because of stubborn refal to ree~ ‘ognize what is teuc, what is right or wat is legal in a given situation, Looking at a ease with jan diced lenses surely invites controversy, The current im- broglio between ABS-CBN and GMA~7 regarding the coverage of the Pope's visit is a good illustration ‘Thi is not a treatise for o against any party [tis an honest-to-goodness attempe at sifting and segregating what is ight, legal and true from what is wrong. illegal amd mendacious. Ikis ruc chat the Catholic Church awarded the TV coverage of the Pope’s visit to GMA. 7 as the official | network. (tis also true that ABS-CBN participated im | the selection process together with the other TV sta- | tions. And the award by the Church is legal and correct, Whether or nor a bidding has been conducted because | ieit the Church's prerogative to make her own choice in her own way. This award, borne out by the minutes of the meeting of the Media Committee on the Papal ‘Visit, means that: “As_ official nerwork it (Channel 7) shall have priority in camera positioning only. [t docs not have exclusivity of coverage.” | The Media Comittee is legally correct when it defined “official network” as not referring to exclusty- ity of coverage” Obviously, it is very much aware that ‘access to information on matters of public concern and, public events in public places of great significance to the people on such points as “learning, religion and government” isa right of every citizen in a democracy like ours. his is a right recognized by our Consticu- don, No less than giving every legitimate media practi~ tioners, news gutherers, reporters and journalist: the ‘equal opportunity to cover thote events of public con- cem and public importance could guarantee such right: The arrangement approved by the Media Commictce berween the Church and GMACT is nothing but like having an official photographer. But having one does not entitle a perton to exclude others fiom taking pic~ tenes of a public evenr happening in a public place. This 4s basic. It does not even require legislative pronounce ‘ment such less a constitutional sanction. To enter into a contract granting a particular TV network exclusive right to cover a newsworthy public event happening in a public place is, therefore, not cor rect and not legal. Otherwise, the Media Committee of the Church could have also appointed an official news- paper and radio station then exclude other newspapers and radio stations from covering the event. The com- ritvee knows that this is not constitutionally feasible. It may even promote mediocrity of news coverage and news reportage. It cannot surely be done in a demo- cratic country like the Phihppines which guarantees and holds dear bate and inherent rights of the people in whom sovereignty ultimately resides. This is aot con- ducive to the promotion of an enlightened and well- informed citizenry which is vital to every democracy, Blocking the camera view of the ABS-CBN crew ‘or relegating them to positions practically facing blank walls are ako definitely wrong, Ic is the height of un- faiencss. The document of exclusive coverage could not legitimize thote wrongfil act of muyzling, the cameras, of another TV station trying to present its live coverage. Only higher interest of the State such as reasons of na~ tional sccurity could justify them but this was never mentioned and was definitely not a factor in granting exclusivity. The truth is that sometime between the awarding of the officid coverage to GMA 7 and the signing of the contract embodying the terms of the award as ap proved by the Media Committee of the Papal Visit,some- thing amiss happened which made the award radically different from the contract. All fingers point to only ‘one culprit — the creeping tentacles of commercialisin that has tainted such a momentous religious event. And there’ the irony. In what’s supposed to be a purely reli- gious affair, big business is still the name of the game. The people were the big losers in this caper. They were deprived of what may have been a more comprehen- sive coverage through healthy cooperation among net- works. Pooling the much vaunted modern equipment, vereran broadcast journalists and vast resources of the different TV networks in covering an event of such mag~ nitude and worldwide attraction. could have better served public interest and the country as.a whole. | Sayang. Repsinted from the Pillppine Star. January |7. 1995.24 PR JANUARY-MARCH 1995, Doughnut Go Gentle ‘The rise of the Philippine Mediacracy BY JAMES McENTEER “The way it looks to me, where most foreign ‘observers of contom- porary Philippines see ‘the doughnut, some Filipino analysts see the hole. —Finet V, RaMsos* “Towards the end of 1998 there were 34 Metro Mania daily newspapers... Three broadsheets and three tabloids...are probably making money. So why do the rest of them, keep pubishing? they act as tax shetters ‘ond weapons for self defense in case their ‘owners are attacked by the other mass media."—Crean C. Mass? “In its own peculior way, the Philippines may be the only coun- ‘ry in Asia that is run by the press."—Ravon Ieoexr0! and sensatiomalize issues instead of promoting genus- ine understanding? Do journalists believe that to bbe"“fice” they muse be “oppositional” to government? Do lazy, corrupt, or unprofessional journalists compromise or destroy media credibility? Does the massive coverage of celebrities, barbarities, anomalies and trivia render most “news” irrelevant and even harmful? Are the Philippine news media just another show, @ circus discracting us from, the usefll consideration of genuine concems? ‘The answer, in each case, it yes. And no. I sthe Philippine press irresponsible? Does it distort Generalized characterizations of the Philippine me dia fail to comprehend theie diverse character. While abun dnt evidence exists to condemn the Philippine press for all the abuses suggested above, it is precisely the more responsible and conscientious jourmalists who best describe and most eloquently deplore more abuses. The best jour malists understand—as do government officials and busi- ness leaders—that media have become a central compo- nent in al facets of public life, from the trivial co the pro- found. Indeed, it is the press that most often defines issues as trivial or profound, or not worth mentioningsports or show business frequently tur into discussions of media. How media characterize issues or individuals can make or break them. Perception of reality has a way of becoming reality. Image can be a symbol of or a substi ‘ute for—substanee. President Ramos acknowledged this truth when he implored Philippine media to be as posi Discussions of policies, polities, commen tive about national progress as foreign media appeared to be. Ic isam image he is selling on his many foreign trips— of a stable society,a resurgent economy, a place to invest to do business, o retire Ramos has made show of stroking the Philippine media machinery. He has mer editors and journalists ata series ofluniches, ivited journalists to Malacanang Palace, and held regular weekly press conferences. He has said that he scrutinizes press reports daily, “scribbles marginal notes on the reports and sends thei government officials concemed for prompt action.”* At stake in the battle to define the role of media is the efiicacy of the democratic process. Responding to a Ramos exhortation to the press to work for national unity and development, Inquirer columnist Adrian Cristobal wrote that:"The role ofa free press in a democracy is to be free and nothing more. Its contribution to policy is only incidental, or if essential, by its ability to promote fice discussion.”* But Cristobal journalistic ideals do not apply to the many elected officials or business moguls, and their trpos, who employ the Philippine media in the guise of reporters, editors and columnists to advance theit own interests Presidential Press Secretary Jesus C.Sison opined that “The Philippine press of the 90°: is so fee that. it has invariably become adversarial.” ‘To Sison, such 2 stanc: contradicts the tenets of objective journalism becaus being adversarial, you immediately take a hostile or position per se against che object of your writing” quirer Editorial Consultant Amando Doronila admits that some jourmaliss“only believe m a confiontational approach to government. Bu: there are these who believe that gov. “St is the press that most often defines issues as trivial or profound, or not worth mentioning.” JANUARY-MARCH 1995 Py 25 emment cannot be wrong all the time. Development is, nota dirty word,though understandably it acquired a bad reputation during the Marcos years. ‘To be pro-develop- ment and pro-democracy is not impossible; those are not mutually exclusive categories.” Inevitably the struggle to define and direct mass me. din often takes place within media. Lecturing about the international media in various foreign venues, Presiden- tial Security Adviser Jose T. Almonte clearly aimed his tnessages at Philippine journalists as well asforcigners. But his messages were mixed, Almonte told an Australian au dience that “the media have become a force for levelin political hierarchies and establishing 2 kind of dire de- oeracy in many of our countries.” He also acknowl- edged the crucial media role in rallying support to over throw the Marcos dictatorship. But in che samme speech he standing for Indonesian President Suharto’26 Py JANUARY-MARCH 1995 restrictions on media content that would stroke “people's rising expectations” and Lee Kuan Yew's stance against a potentially disruptive media “marketplace of ideas” And in London he said that, “East Asian nations must preserve the peace among themselves and chey must inseill im the new democracies a moral value beyond individual rights. Almonte’ London statement has congruence with the sentiments expressed by the rulers of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, where press independence that challenges official policies is restricted and punished. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar [brahim told a Manila att dience last December that “the growth of a democratic society has always been ‘coterminus’ with the develop- ment of press freedom.” No one ventured to ask him why his owa country has not allowed a fee press to sevelop Ibrahim agreed with Almonte that, thanks to technology, including computers, satellite television. and fax machines, “the days of effective censorship and con- trol of media are numbered.” But he said a press should only be fice “wich some responsibility and limitations." Both men condemned the Western press as a “de~ structive force,” fomenting discontent. Bue neither man iscussed the social implications of a press that most citi- zens did not believe or trust. Almonte praised the “mos- «quito press” that rose up to challenge the official version ‘of news published by the crony press during the Marcos er, Does he not believe the hunger for the truth would not again find a way around official —or self-imposed — press sanctions? ‘On Indonesia's National Press Day in February, Pres dent Suharto warned that “the Indonesian press must co- ‘operate with government to preserve the political and so cial stability of the country" But Suharto’ ban of three newsmaguzines last Junie has led to the formation of an underground Alliance of Independent Journalists whose outspoken publications directly challenge the long-time suppression of free speech in Indonesia? Censorship breeds its own reaction, ‘The greater the represion, the xgreatcr the desire co speak and hear the truth, Admonish- ing the Philippine press for its timidity in holding, gow emment accountable, columnist Ninex Cacho Olivares wamed that “there is very little difference herween 4 govemmment-censored press and a timid self-censored press Both serve the interests of authoritarian and would-be authoritarian rulers.” The Philippine press taught the Suharto regime a les son in press fteedom during last une’ Asia Pacific Con- ference on Fast Timor (APCET). Organized by human rights activists andi held at the University of the Philip “The greater the repression, the greater the desire to speak and hear the truth.” pines Diliman campus, the APCET might have pasied unnoticed, as do most such events, had not the Indone- sian government intervened to stop it, At the behest of Indonesia, President Ramos attempted to forbid the con ference, causing an outcry in the press. The Supreme ‘Coureruled thatthe event could take place, but that Ramos, had the authority to ban foreign delegates, which he did. Press photographers swarmed the airport, snapping em barrassing photos of prominent human rights activist including an Irish Nobel Prize winner—being turned ove of the county. APCET organizers were cestatic. The publicity was beyond their expectations. Newspapers published long accounts of the East ‘Timor conflict, to explain to their readers what all the fuss was about, Ramos was forced to send letters of apology co the Portuguese government and to Madame Mitterand, wife of the French president, who was among the invited delegates forbidden to vist the Philippines. The Suharto regime, accustomedto the dacile media in its own country, had badly miscalculated the powerfil impact of an independent press. The APCET conference was not big news. But the effort of a demo- cratic government to stop it was. Dismissing the Ramos calls for some form of “devel- ‘opment journalist,” columnist Conrado de Quiros opined that “Third World countries cannot afford the luxury of a sinug or ferice-sitting press..It is not for the press to stop being liberal and become conservative. It is for the press to go beyond liberal and become activist” But the activ- isin De Quiros advocates is currently exercised largely by extra_journalistic players to advance their own carects ot agendas. Ramos critics such as Miriam Defensor Santiago have accused his administration of trying to co-opt the media Santiago points out that the government “already exer- cises effective influence over yovernment-sequestered hewspapers and'TV stations,” including the Times Jour- nal and the People’s Journal “2s well as Channels 4,9 and 13,"since “government nominees sit on the board ofdirecrors” of those operations." Ramps has acknowledged, that the public perception that information emanating from government is nothing bur “self serving propaganda has been carried over to some extent from the days of martial law” But he believes “commercial media” have “greater resources 10 reach out f0 the masses, as well as to the key decision-makers..." Santiago alo remarks the political intimacy between Ramos and the owners or top executives of ABS~CBN (which owns TV channel 2, DZMM and Skycable TV) GMA (TV Channel 7) and CATV. Santiago, a former sovernment official, lost in the 1992 presidential race to Ramos, a result she continues to contest, even as she registered as a candidate for a 1995 Senate seat. Her shrill, tunabated criticism of the Ramos regime, vented in her regular column for the Manila daily newspaper, TODAY, is not surprising. By exposing the government’s media connections, Santiago has joined a number of journalists who are defining the rerms and limits of political debate, including acceptable limits of dissent. Santiago is among the many regular media commen- tators who are present or former public officials. Theit ‘numerous presence on television screens and newspaper pages renders the media a de facto shadow government of sorts, complete with pro- and anti- administration fac- tions. These split personalities broaden their power bases and contaminate the independence of journalism. They cextend partisan debate beyond the halls of the legislature and the confines of the campaign trail. They subvert free discussion and bend the terms of debate to their own am- bitions. They are primary players in the Philippine mediacracy. Mediacrats use their media presences for other finan cial or political ends. Proprietors of money-losing news- papers who use that ownership to further their influence belong to the mediacracy. As do movie and'TV stars or sports figures who run for office based solely on theit entertainment reknown. Or television newscasters who endorse commercial products in paid advertisements JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PR 27 Mediacrats manage to hog an inordinate amount of the media spotlight, abetted by a press that, in the word of Conrado de Quiros, “tends to be glued to the affairs of Metro Manila” and “is often elitist in outlook, equating news with anything that happens in government and big busines.” When mediacrats are subtracted from the media ix, the number of wuly independent journalists remain~ ing is a relatively small minority. It is no surprise that politicians have taken avidly to mediacratie methods in order to gain and hold power. In February the Commission on Elections questioned Sergio, Osmnefia II's qualification for the Senate race, claiming that “Eskapo,” a film about his escape from prison during martial law, violated the provision of the Election Code prohibiting the use of cinematography and audio-visual units for election propaganda." Osmerta denied that the film advocated or directly campaigned for hima, But his submission to the commission of the nickname “OK Eskapo,” to identify him for woters makes his protest ap- pear disingenuous.” Because the official campaign period for mayors be- gins later than that for senators, the January release of che film “Alfredo Lim (Batas ng Maynila)” is not a technical election violation, One reviewer called the movie“a com- pilation of Alfredo Lim’s speeches and private mush dis- guised as a film” “Lim is Mr. Good Guy in this film and all the others are evil conspirators and goons. He is the people's candidate who can do no wrong. Even his (se eret?) ambition of running for presidentin 1998 was hineed at” Lim's penchant for self-promotion led his chief of staff, Col, Zosimo Balagtas,to distribute 55,000 copies of the Graphic Magazine November 11 issue featuring a cover story on Mayor Lim, to eleven Manila police sta tion commanders with order to sell them all within ten, days." Vice President Joseph Estrada is merely the highest- ranking official wo patlay an encertai office. Noting the “emerging political trend in this coun try” of “celebrities in entertainment and sports, who are unencareer into public28 Py JANUARY-MARCH 1995 seeking elective offices in Congress, provincial capitols and city halls?” Amando Doronila thinks most run be cause they have passed the peaks of their earcers. “Thun, public office islikely to aewact has-beens ornear has-beens in rehabilitate and legitimize the son of her father’ nemesis, ‘What must have seemed a programmer's and publicist’ dream had spawned a nightmare of political fill- ove. Most pernicious of all the mediacratic minions are those Doroninmighchave eked “ost pernicious of all ‘ou Semen wong ersatz celebrity never-weres, Mediacratic minions are thos€ dors. or who are hankrolled by such as the namesake of the journalists who abuse their outsiders to forward their movie actor Fernando Poe Ji, causes. Capable citizens who who wanted to base his Sen. Positions to extort money OF ihe cuicrwise perforin val ate candidacy on fame thatbe~ longs to someone else. Many mediacrats prefer t0 operate unoberusively. But Philippine television au ences watched a blatant dis~ play in January when Kris Aquino interviewed Bongbong Marcos on a talk show, “‘Actually..yun na” The unset ting encounter between the off spring of two of the most politically prominent—and antagonistie—Philippine fami hes sllustrated Karl Marx's dictum that history happens the fist time as tragedy, the second time as farce. Daughter of a martyred national hero and a former president, Kris Aquino parlayed her farily’ political prom rence into a show business career. Her recent personal life has piqued tabloid sensibilities worldwide and caused even sober, insightful commentators like the Star’s Teodoro Benigno, Corazon Aquino’ former press secretary,to pon der Kris Aquino’s destiny at length, Bonpbong, whose father held dictatorial powers when Ninoy Aquino was murdered, appeared cool and relaxed in preparation for his Senate bid. The cordiality of their conversation, including an affectionately polite beso bes0, appeared to bestow a kind of absolution on the dictator's son. Only afterwards, in 4 tearfl apology to her mother, did Kris Aquino appear to realize the extent of the dam- age. She had thoughtlessly derailed her own return to respectability and betrayed her patrimony by helping co favors, or who are bankrolled by outsiders to forward their causes.” able public service refuse be cause of the high cost—in money or damage to their rpu- tations—imposed by media practitioners who are cither personally greedy oF acting as hired guns for interested parties. Such corruption has long been a feature of the Philippine media scene.” As columnist Luis Teodoro has written: “They may as well hhave guns, and that’s what they are, children with gu except that they have malice as well?”® The Commission (on Elections has found it necessary to propose that media practitioners involved in a political campaign take a leave fiom th mediacracy® work during that period, implying the exist- of many such double-dipping tools of th In the blame the public for regarding media with skepticism and ace of such practices, can anyone Tue U.S. EXAMpLe: A Cautionary Tae «is worth comparing and contrasting the ‘mediacracies of the Philippines and the United States, since the US. serves as the putative model for Phil- ippine media. The rise of the US. mediacracy began ear- lict and developed somewhat differently, owing largely coeconomic factors, namely the huge profits generated by newspaper chains and especially by television. By carly 1960s television had entered an overwhelm- ing majority of US. households. John Kennedy is com- monly referred to as the first“television” president, since he used television to make himself look the equal of his much more faznous opponent. Kennedy also used his persoual charm at televised White House press confer ences to deflect the probing of journalists who appreci- ated his wit and were flattered he knew their names Kennedy’ assassination and fianeral drew a shocked nation to their television sets. TV news disturbed many Americans throughout the 1960s. They saw black civil rights activists beaten and abused, American soldiers fight- ing and dying in Viemnam, students marching, against the war and tanks rolling down the streets of American cities to stop race riots and violence. Civil rights and anti-war activists were aware of the media's power to spread their messages. When mainstream media seemed hesitant to «endorse the changes activists sought, they stared their own media. Hundreds of “alternative” newspapers were pub- lished in the late 60 and early 70s in the US. to advance 1 number of social and legal changes. Daniel Boorstin had already defined the “pseudo— event” as one staged especially for media. We take press conferences and photo opportunities for granted now, but then it was still novel when someone other than gover sneent officials or film stars staged media events. New York Times reporter David Halberstam recalled asking a col- league in the 1960s what he was going to do that day. His fiend replied, “I'm trying to decide whether or not to cover a demonstration that wort take place if | don’ cover ic” Buc if the Lef thought the mass media too establish ment, many Americans found the media much too lefewing, Some Americans have never forgiven the media for showing the own government officials to be liars about Viemam, Some still blame media for the US. de~ feat there. In 1968 President Lyndon Johnson decided against running for re-election, ‘The day after he announced his decision he addressed the National Convention of Tele- vision Broadcasters and blamed chem for forcing him out Of olfice, because of their Viewnam coverage. Johnson claimed that when the nationally famousnews broadcaster Walter Cronkite expressed doubts about the war,he knew he was finished. When Robert Kermedy was assassinated, also in 1968, the New York Democratic party offered to appoint Cronkite to Kennedy's unfinished Senate tern, Cronkite refused, feeling his influence on the nationwide JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PR 29 Sh mediacracy sounds like mediocrity, the relationship Ts apt”? nightly news broadcast was more than he could have as ‘merely onc of a hundred USS. Senators. He also demurred because his salary was more than ten times that of a Sena: tot, more than one million dollars a year—in 1968. Cronkite had already sensed the power shiffing from the corridors of Washingron to the scudios of te ‘As carly as 1922, Walter Lippmann describe ten enormous difference berween “the world outside and the pictures in our heads.” the gap between the actual ‘world and the media world, or what he called the” pseudo- environment” He thought media could only deal it reotypes and deliver crude sketches of reality. ‘The public would have to depend on their elected officials and on ‘experts (like Lippmann) to understand events on theit be- half Lippmann had come out of Harvard a Socialis, a founder of the leftwing New Republic and cohort of Pro gressive reformers. Not just a commentator on politics, he served politicians, savoring his “insider” access, He wrote speeches for Theodore Roosevelt and drafted ‘Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points surrender terms after World War One. As he continued 0 advise presislents and write his influential opinion columns into the 1970s, Lippman became increasingly conservative. His unigue “insider” starus rendered his world travels kind of raving, ambassadorship, sometimes with a significant diplomatic, role Lippmann was. prominent model mediactat. So was Ronald Reagan. Elected president in 1980, afer a career as « film actor and TV host, Reagan gov- ered almost exclusively through television. His photo opportunities were carefully scripted by managers, han~ dlers and spin doctors. He avoided journalists. Though, hhis administration suffered from major scandals, Reagan, knew only what was written on his cue cards, His media advisor, Michael Deaver, later bragged, “I invented Ronald Reagan. I was Ronald Reagan.” Reagan was re-elected, casily in 1984, presiding a full eight years as a mediated presidential image.Lippmann’s pscudo-envitonment had conquered “the world outside.” By the 1980s, thanks to television, many journalissJANUARY-MARCH 1995 30 Py swere mach better known and better paid than the officials, about whom they were reporting, Well-educated and well- heeled, the top Washington journalists were elite profes- sionals, living Lippmann’s legacy, reporting for others of their kind,:he top socio-economic twenty percent of US. society. Job changes between journalism and government became routine. To take one of the many examples: Pat Buchanan wrote editorials for a St. Louis paper before joining the Nixon White House as speechwriter. After Nixon resigned, Buchanan wrote for Wishingwoa papers, until entering the Reagan White House as part of the communications staff. He joined CNN when Reagan, left office, resigning to run for the presidency in 1992. He is back at CNN again now. Journalists at clite US. news organizations serve as the information loop for intra-governmental communi- cation. Highly placed federal bureaucrats learned from, ‘The Washington Post ot The New York Times about, developments in their own departments.” The tendency of the press to serve as 2 bulletin board for government, media and special interests has alienated chose who are not directly involved in the political process and cannot understand the import of the news being presented. Many Americans, resenting che elitist, incestuous re- lationship between journalists and political officeholders, have rejected traditional mainstream news in favor of tab- loid news. The largest-selling newspaper in America now, 1s not the The New York Times or USA Today but the National Enquirer, a tabloid sold at supermarkets, fe2- ‘uring stories about the love lives (teal and fictitious) of film and TV stars, flying saucers, miracle medical cures, and the ghost of Elvis Presley. Do people actually believe te tabloids? The point is, since the “real” news doesn’t, speak to them or include them, they have abandoned stream media for tall tales, opting for entertainment. ‘Tabloid television shows have followed and magnified the ‘rend, with highly lucrative results. So lucrative, that they have influenced mainstream news to become sexier, more violent, and more concerned with the lives of the rich and famous. With all chree of these key ingredients, the J. Simpson murder case is a natural subject for both “legitimate” and “sleazy” press coverage, and is helping to dissolve the differences between them, (One mecha critic called the 1991 Gulf War between the US. and Iraq a “co-production” of CNIN and the Pentagon, Having learned the lessons of Viemam, the US. military eliminated all but official coverage of the war and broadcast their own press conference: without any reporters to question them. The military had ascended. to the mediacracy. We still have no count of Iraqi civilian casualties The 1992 US. presidential campaign also largely by- passed traditional news venues. Bill Clinton won—not because most people thought his policies, or his charac~ ter, were superior to those of his epponent—bue because he understood the modern media equation. He took his campaign to radio and TV talk and variety shows. He talked rock and roll on MTV and played his saxophone on Arsenio Hall. By making himself into an entertainer, Clinton got votes from the millions who usually ignore US. presidential campaigns. Vice President Dan Quayle campaigned against T'V sitcom character Murphy Brown and lost, If mediacracy sounds like mediocrity, the relationship is apt. ‘Tue TERRITORY OF PHILIPPINE JOURNALISM 1 the Philippines, as in the United States, serious journalism is « small territory in the huge domain ‘of mass media. [t is neither fair nor accurate to confuse the owo, though even journalists do so on occa- sion. Some prominent Philippine media practitioners have StF elitist journalism and tabloid journalism are merely two different rings of the media circus, where can we find news we use?” taken on Lippmannesque trappings. They fancy them- selves roving ambassadors, reporting as often fiom foreign ‘venues as fiom the Philippines. Sometimes, as when they draw attention to the plight of Philippine nationals oF overseas workers who have been mistreated by foreign governments, their mission is valid and valuable. Bat some of them seem merely to represent themselves, content to revel in their self-importance. The problem ofan elitist media, writing for and about a small ruling class is as big a problem in the Philippines, cor bigger, than in the United States. Amando Doronila says his “constituency is the middle clas, those who havehigh school education ot JANUARY-MARCH 1995 PR 31 In the Philippines, politics higher” How extensive 18 gg is personal, All to0 offen, di that readership? Inquirer “(Media analysis must become — cussions of issues turn into dis- Opinion Editor JorgeV.Aruta 7 ‘aussious of personalities.“ you acknowledges thar deapice the a staple of Philippine criticize a policy the politician proliferation of dailies, “che — education, along with reading, will ask “Why docsn' this guy total circulation of newspapers hhas not increased in 25 years, due to incomes and the ‘economy and because we are not a reading; culture.” But Arata says many radio shows that reach deep into the provinces often use Manila col- uinns or news items for cheir programs - sometines sint- ply reading the newspaper over the radio.”” Television critic Gerard Ramos has criticized Philip pine broadcast journalists for practicing a “bourgeois tele vision masquerading 2s the medium of the masses.” He sees the situation as dangerous “because by whipping up the support of a noisy minority, meaning the TV avdi- ence, on social or political issues that on the surface seem to be representative of the sentiments of the greater ma~ jority but are in fact those of the capitalist elite, television is contributing to the farther discnfanchisement of an already disenfranchised people?” If elitist journalism and tabloid journalism are merely two different rings of the media circus, where can we find news we can use? When the PhilSat communications system is fully operational, television will beable to reach every corner of the Philip~ pine archipelago, overtaking radio as the central cultural medium. At that point the U.S. precedent will acquire ‘more relevance here, since political campaigning and gov- cemance by mediacracy will become much casir. ‘With the coalition —however temporary—of the Lakas and Laban parties, the Ramos administration’: major po- litical opponents are effectively neutralized. ‘The role of a ‘vigorous, independent press is more crucial now than ever. Many Philippine journalists have pointed co the dangers of ade facto one-party rule, In the words of Ninez Cacho Olivares“Surely, the entire Takas-[ aban membership have not forgotten the fact that Fidel Ramos, one of Marcos? “12 apostles.” served as his loyal general for close t0 two decades and blithely went about implementing martial rule?”" Though many ineerested and disinterested parties in media have conjured a potential Ramos power coup blessed by democratic process, could anyone or anything thwart such ambitions? Amando Doronila believes that “here ate strong institutional constraints against anything resembling dictatorship or martial lw: a strong press and the Church” writing and ai ithmetic.”” like me?” said Doronila. “But the press isthe least personal of Philippine institutions, and least bound by patromge’”® Teodoro 1. Locsin, Jr former presidential speechwriter for Corazon Aquino and now editor and publisher of TODAY, thinks journaliss should not waste their tine on “big picture” issues, Ir may be eue that structural problems exist in this country, according to Locsin, “But it is not a very usefl truth because there is nothing the press can do about i. Naming names, detailing misconduct—this is the para- mount duty of the journalist. It is ovcasionally 2 much— abused duty, but it is one’s only duty” “Newspapers answer to a higher authority than che court of lave” according to Conrado de Quiros. They answer to the cours of public opinion. That ultimately is what makes their attacks impersonal, however fierce they get to be and however they are directed against specific persons” Ideally journalists must have both the courage to name the names of wrongdoers and the knowledge to identify systemic problems, including problems created ‘or perpetrated by the mass media. President Ramos seemed to take press criticism of his administration personally, when he rebuked Philip- pine media for seeing the hole instead of the doughnut the foreign press admired. Perhaps he resents crities who might undermine his travels in search of investment and trade. Or the efforts of the public relations firms his ad- ministration retainsto bolster the Philippine image world- wide. Many countries hire PR. experts and so have previ ous Philippine politicians, ULS. public relations firms ran the 1986 presidential campaigns ofboth Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino. Sawyer-Miller, who worked for Corazon Aquino, profited greatly from her victory.” The positive appraisal ofthe Philippine economy from, Newsweek, Asiaweck, the Far Eastern Economic Review and The International Herald Tribune may have been a spontaneous outbreak, though all those pub lications receive information from the Philippine govern ment, And they all employ Filipino stringers, An advertising supplement in a recent issue of the International Herald Tribune, sponsored by the Phil ippine government, outlined the banking and financial32 Py JANUARY-MARCH 1995 ‘opportunities in the Philippines. According to one ar- ticle, “The political implication of the Philippines’ eco nomic recovery is that it is demonstrating that growth and democracy can take place simultaneously” The author of this officially-sanctioned doughnut

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