Speaking of Media

The Arroyos and the press
“….In a speech during the Unesco World Press Freedom Day celebration four years ago in Malacañang, the President said: ‘We celebrate the responsible exercise of press freedom. . . In the Philippines, we are known not only as a free press but having a licentious press. But in the Philippines, speaking for the government, we would rather have a licentious press than a bridled press. That is our press policy.’

“I wonder if President Arroyo or her husband has changed their minds regarding the Philippine press since then.”
– Marvin A. Tort,  BusinessMirror, Sept. 15 and 16

“I am protesting discrimination. My good friend Billy Esposo has had a libel case filed against him by Mike Arroyo. My good friend Ellen Tordesillas has had a libel case filed against her by Mike Arroyo. My friend Lito Banayo has had a libel case filed against him by Mike Arroyo. My colleagues Jake Macasaet, Mon Tulfo and the editorial staff of my favorite newspaper, the Inquirer, have had a libel case filed against them by Mike Arroyo.
“I have not had a libel case filed against me by Mike Arroyo. I feel left out. I protest!”
– Conrado de Quiros, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sept. 14

“The abuse of power or influence by powerful complaints is a threat that does not ever go away.
“The fear is not valid. If a media person writes his stories in his best lights and is guided only by his perception of the truth, he should not worry at all. Yes, he may be sent to jail by powerful influence.
“He should get sound sleep if in his heart he knew that he did his job the way it should be done. We newsmen should be ready for execution or jail trying to do our jobs.”
-Amado P. Macasaet, Malaya, Aug. 30

“As the government’s liaison to the media and as a fellow journalist, I stand with you in your fight as you work everyday to strengthen Philippine democracy.”
-Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye,The Philippine Star, Aug. 27

Shadowy story?
“(A)s a journalist who has gone full circle in print, radio and television, I must raise my voice at ABS-CBN, which gave these soldiers, who couldn’t even show their faces in public, time and the chance to go on air. What Maria Ressa and Korina Sanchez did in the name of exclusivity was definitely in violation of the Journalistic Code of Ethics, which stipulates that anybody charging anyone (more so the government) of some crime or anomaly, must be identifiable. And if they choose to remain anonymous, media are mandated to get the other side in the same report.
“Instead of observing this Code of Ethics, ABS-CBN chose to make a big thing out of this shadowy group and only got an answer from a military spokesman after a day or two. That’s what is called tabloid reporting, which has become the rule more than the exception.”
– Emil P. Jurado, Manila Standard Today, Aug. 25

Blame the press
“Who breached the security at the airport?
“An expert smuggled bomb components into an aircraft to test the effectiveness and efficiency of our airport security system. His ‘feat’ brought to light the glaring defects in our security arrangements. It placed in doubt the effectiveness of the security checks being conducted in all our airports, seaports and land transportation facilities. The breach, reported by the media, alarmed the nation and the uproar it whipped up reverberated all over the world.
“But who breached security? Who is to blame? Not the ‘breacher.’ Not the security personnel at the airports. It was the publicity of the breach that alarmed the nation’s security.”
– Retired major general Fortunato Abat, Inquirer, Sept. 8

On media abuse
“There is a standard or a guideline for media practitioners when it comes to reporting child abuse cases because under Republic Act 7610, there is that confidentiality clause. So in your reports, as much as possible, you should not identify the child. Do not show the face, or any mark that (can) make people identify him.
“I’m giving a warning… (to media) that you can be charged for violation of (RA 7610). If there’s a complainant, we would not hesitate to investigate the case and file charges if the evidence warrants.”
– Justice department senior state prosecutor Emily Fe de los Santos, in a forum on media coverage of child abuse cases, Newswatch, Sept. 7

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