Speaking of Media

On responsibility and repression
“One person who has absolutely lost all right to tell this country’s media to act in a responsible manner is Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. One of the most galling experiences that a citizen of this country has to undergo these days is to be told by Virgilio Garcillano’s favorite cellphone-pal that Philippine media should exercise their freedom in a responsible manner. That is because Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has absolutely no right—in the language of the streets it is called K, for karapatan—to talk about the need for the media to behave responsibly. Indeed, she has no right to talk about responsible behavior at all.”
– Rudy Romero, Manila Standard Today, April 5

“That is why I have been saying all the time that we have to control some aspects of media reporting… they always put a spin to their stories.
“That is the trouble with media and, I’m sorry to say this, those things that come out of the media are the things (government officials) do not actually say.”
– Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 26

“Only when the media entities are transparent about themselves will the free press really be free.”
– RG Cruz, http://www.rgcruz.com, March 27

“Mass media is the defender of basic human rights against the natural tendency of a powerful entity like government to enlarge the sweep of its powers.”
– Benjamin Defensor, BusinessWorld, April 3

“Media is a business, first and foremost. And without profit, it cannot continue to pursue the best of journalism. But my concern is this: Once a broadcast network or media company takes in public investors, whose interest will it prioritize, that of its investing public or its public audience?”
– Marvin A. Tort, BusinessMirror, April 5

“Threatening the media with sedition in the same cavalier way by which an anti-GMA rally gets dispersed these days cannot lead to anything but a hardening of positions and a revelation of the true nature of what we are dealing with. No matter how raucous or ridiculous the Philippine press may occasionally get, a government and justice secretary who also can find time and energy to intimidate writers can’t be any better and can offer little comfort to those who still believe in a free press as a cornerstone of a modern democracy.”
– Butch Dalisay, March 28

“A free press is the soul of democracy. As such, we must continue to assert our freedoms, as guaranteed by the Constitution and international covenants, to keep the people informed, to generate discussions…”
– Carol Arguillas, March 1

“I salute the local media, those journalists who have sacrificed their lives or who have been hurt but continue to serve the truth.
“The police raid on the The Daily Tribune, for example, was intended not solely as an act of retribution against a critical newspaper but as a warning to all media establishments to behave according to the desires of the powers-that-be.”
– Sen. Franklin Drilon, Inquirer, April 21

“Should the state’s survival be at the price of press freedom? Many years ago, Thomas Jefferson, one of the greatest statesmen said: ‘If I were to choose between a government without a press and a press without government, I would not hesitate to choose the latter’.”
– United Church of Christ, Rev. S.D. Eduarte, Inquirer, April 16

“I won’t go anymore into a diatribe on the supposed difference between responsible and ‘seditious’ journalism because there is really no conflict there. It’s more like comparing apples and oranges. Responsible journalism is just that, it’s either seditious or ‘unseditious,’ much like there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ news. It’s all how we take the news.
“Sure, media has its own problems like ethics, etc. but that is for media to resolve and that is being resolved.
“If government has problems with how media conducts itself, then it should take a long hard look at the policies it is implementing, rather than shoot the messenger.”
– Alcuin Papa, March 14

“There’s religious freedom in the Philippines, and the liberal and liberating principle exists on television as well, with different denominations having TV channels of their own.
“Sometimes, however, those ostensibly spiritual channels are misused so badly that they leave a bad taste in viewers’ mouths.
“This happens when ‘warring’ religious denominations use their channels, not so much to espouse and spread their spiritual message, but to criticize and malign other faiths.
“In fact, some religious channels devote practically all of their telecast time to lashing out at and insulting the head of a rival group! They take great pains to tape-record his statements, and proceed to debunk them, point by point.
“This is disturbing to behold, because religion is supposed to promote peace and harmony, not internecine strife and vicious discord.
“The fact that these warring groups are Christian is another great disappointment, because Jesus Christ presented himself as the great espouser of ecumenism.
“We hope that the warring denominations will remember this, and devote themselves to more positive and beneficial pursuits from here on in!
“We know that some members of these groups may not approve of these comments, but we aren’t alone in making them.
“Other viewers we know are similarly dismayed at the bad example that these ‘religious TV wars’ are setting for their children—so, please desist.”
– Nestor Torre, Inquirer, April 3

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