ABS-CBN report on axed ABC-5 programs a case of speculative journalism?

ABC-5 did not just cancel its public affairs programs Frontlines and Dokyu, but has in fact axed its entire public affairs programming, Alecks Pabico posted in Inside PCIJ last January 23. Contrary to an earlier ABS-CBN report on the issue, the reasons for the cancellation of the programs and the department “are more financial than political, with insiders pointing to ABC 5’s heavy monetary losses in recent years,” Pabico wrote.

ABS-CBN’s report, “Anti-Arroyo TV shows taken off air,” had earlier reported that Frontlines and Dokyu have been axed because of their critical stories against the government. Apparently, Antonio “Tony Boy” Cojuangco, owner of Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC), decided to cancel the two shows to appease Malacañang. Cojuango was implicated in the failed military coup plot in February last year. ABS-CBN also added in the report that Newsbreak, which seed capital was given by Cojuangco, stopped publishing its print edition. Newsbreak however continues to do stories online.

“So is the issue one of politics or economics? Unfortunately, with nothing much to back it up, the ABS-CBN report could only have engaged in a reckless exercise in speculative journalism,” Pabico wrote.

The Inside PCIJ post also discussed how public affairs programs in the country have eventually been “transformed into glamorous and glitzy productions…. in order to rate.”

“And, as usual, it’s the Filipino televiewing public that ends up as losers,” Pabico said in his post.

Read the full post here.

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