Speaking of Media

Media and elections
“We are deeply concerned over the lack and shortage of information on the party-list elections. Such a situation serves the purposes of those who seek to subvert the party-list system and deny victory for winning party-list groups….
“The media should reconsider the seeming exclusion of the party-list race in their coverage plans. The underrepresented and marginalized sectors which the party-list system hopes to represent must be provided timely and accurate information.”
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, a former journalist, complaining why media quick counts excluded party-list votes from their monitoring, May 15

“We are asking major networks to be fair. Don’t just visit opposition bailiwicks so that the public won’t have doubts later on as to why majority of our senatorial candidates will win.”
Antonio Albano, Team Unity spokesman, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 14

“Many radio-TV reporters, anchors, and commentators keep talking pompously on the air about ‘mayoralty’ candidates when they probably mean ‘mayoral’ candidates. Many newspaper reports are also peppered with the same carelessly used terms.
“It is appalling that many of us in media do not know that one term (‘mayoralty’) is a noun, while the other is an adjective (‘mayoral’). They are not inter-changeable….
“When in a quandary over which term to use, mentally replace ‘mayoralty’ with ‘presidency,’ or ‘mayoral’ with ‘presidential.’ (Note the rhyming of the equivalent terms.) Any error in usage then becomes obvious.
“We do not say that someone is a ‘presidency’ candidate, do we? He is a ‘presidential’ candidate. Neither should we say that someone is a ‘mayoralty’ candidate. Instead, he is a ‘mayoral’ (counterpart of ‘presidential’) candidate.
Federico D. Pascual Jr., The Philippine Star, May 15

“It has become clear to me that both the candidates and Philippine media that lean on them to reveal their stands on the issues of the day are concerned only with fluff. Both the candidates and Philippine media are not interested in the core issues that determine the future of this country.
“Instead, both the candidates and Philippine media gorge themselves on legal and constitutional fluff on the suspension of a corrupt opposition Metro Manila mayor who cannot account for P1.1 billion in municipal funds, on the qualifications or lack thereof of dozens of party-list groups that have proliferated like the proverbial mushrooms, on so far unsubstantiated allegations that the machinery for cheating (by the administration) is in place, on the ultimate fate of several obviously nuisance candidates.
“But neither the candidates nor Philippine media are concerned that, based on the current growth rate of 1.95% per annum, our population of 88 million will double to about 176 million by the year 2037, and to about 352 million by the year 2067.”
Antonio C. Abaya, Manila Standard Today  May 10

Growing hostility toward media
“The killings have been roundly condemned by the government and journalist organizations both here and abroad. Columnists, editorialists, and feature writers are vociferous against the killings. Undoubtedly, senatorial candidates will also lend their voices to the chorus of condemnations.
“All the same, the sense in the journalistic community is that strongly worded statements are not enough, perhaps even futile. There is, to begin with, a growing hostility in the usual quarters towards a free and independent press. Belligerent words from officials cannot but take their toll on an unarmed ‘fourth estate….’
“The only action plan that comes to mind is silence about crooks in high and low places, unless they are first officially confirmed by arrests and successful prosecution. No enterprise or investigative stories. This will make journalism less exciting but less offensive to crooks, political or otherwise, less dangerous to journalists, and considerably less valuable to the public that a free and independent press is supposed to serve.
“Reporters will be confining themselves to press releases and opinion writers to changes in the weather and the antics of celebrities. Isn’t it comforting that journalists in government media are not only comfortable but apparently immune to harassment, intimidation, and liquidation?
“I fear this ‘action plan’ will be viewed as cowardly counsel. What’s the use of a muzzled press? Isn’t a protected press vital to a democracy?
“Only if you want it.”
Adrian Cristobal, after the Delfin Mallari killing, Manila Bulletin, April 21

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