Journalism Review Archives | Page 85 of 161

Mindanao’s Road to Peace: Explaining the BOL Plebiscite

THE NEXT step towards ending the 50-year struggle of the Bangsamoro for self-determination, equality and peace, the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is now in the hands of the people of Mindanao who will cast their vote in a plebiscite on January 21. That the vote is being held at...

Against “Red-tagging”: Media Provide Needed Context

LAST JANUARY 7, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed that they were gathering intelligence on members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), a progressive organization of teachers and education workers. A leaked memorandum had ordered the police to make an inventory of those affiliated with ACT, including their...

Abolishing the Road Board: Corruption Crackdown Reveals Political Rift

THE ABOLITION of the Road Board, proposed by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte is not just about cracking down on corruption in the agency. It has also revealed a show of force among groups in the ruling coalition. The Road Board made news in December,which was not the...

Media Debunk Arroyo’s ‘Exoneration’

CHEERS TO GMA News Online and Rappler for pointing out that not all charges against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have been dismissed, contrary to the claims of her lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio. On December 17, Pasay RTC branch 112 granted Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence on the electoral sabotage case...

Media Focus on Urgent Public Health Issues

CHEERS TO GMA-7’s 24 Oras and I-Witness for calling attention to some of the most urgent public health issues in a series of reports and a documentary that aired at the start of 2019. 24 Oras’ three-part special report “Pasyentiis” from January 2 to 4 looked into the difficulties...

Against Rewriting History: Inquirer on the Marcoses’ Revisionism

CHEERS TO the Philippine Daily Inquirer for its series on how social media is being weaponized by the Marcos family to advance their political interests and revise Philippine history. Written by Mariejo Ramos, the three-part report of the Inquirer looked at the “troll armies” and websites supporting the Marcoses’...

Keeping Go in the Public Mind

JEERS TO The Philippine Star for giving so much space to Christopher “Bong” Go, the former special assistant of President Rodrigo Duterte and a senatorial aspirant in the coming midterm elections. From December 1, 2018 to January 4, 2019, CMFR found that the Star published 18 reports of doubtful...

Minors in the News: Naming Invites Further Harm

REPORTING MINORS in the news involves a number of ethical issues and considerations. Is the story newsworthy? Will the exposure or publicity cause them potential harm? The essential vulnerability of children and even teenagers below 18 is the principal concern. Not all newsrooms are agreed about the naming of...

Media Didn’t Explain What Qualifies as “Pork”

IS THE controversial and unconstitutional pork barrel back? “Pork,” the lump-sum discretionary funds allotted to lawmakers for their pet projects was revealed to be used in a large-scale scam in 2013, when the Philippine Daily Inquirer uncovered how the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) was used to channel kickbacks...

Online News Site Looks Into “Favored Contractor” Background

CHEERS TO GMA News Online for its efforts to look more closely into the government dealings of Bulacan-based C.T. Leoncio Construction and Trading, which some congressmen said has been a favored contractor of some Cabinet members for infrastructure projects. House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. Alleged that the company...