Journalism Review Archives

Media probes Nicolas Torre III’s removal from PNP chief office

CHEERS TO Rappler, Inquirer.net, and News5 for explaining the significance of Nicolas Torre III’s abrupt removal from the highest Philippine National Police (PNP) rank.

Daily Tribune calls Gaza’s food scarcity a ‘fake famine’

JEERS TO Daily Tribune for claiming a “fake famine” in Gaza, contradicting confirmation by the United Nations and food security experts that people are suffering from food deprivation in the Palestinian area.

Investigative journalism drives Discaya probe beyond Senate hearings

BILLIONS OF pesos have flowed into flood-control projects over the past decade to favor a small circle of contractors. Many projects exist only on paper, the actual construction proceeding as “ghost” activities. Some have collapsed within months after completion, showing flaws in construction. As floods continue to batter communities...

Policy debate on online gambling and social values

FROM MARCH to August 2025, debates in the Upper and Lower houses intensified on the question of whether or not online gambling should be completely banned or regulated, reflecting the range of views held by lawmakers and the general public. In early July, bills had already been filed accordingly.

2026 National budget: Headlines hit the big numbers

THE SUBMISSION of the MARCOS administration’s PHP6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) on August 7 grabbed headlines, its historic size duly highlighted, a budget consistent with constitutional requirements and “ready to execute.” From PHP6.352 trillion in 2025, the increase once again placed education at the top of allocations, with...

The people have a right to know about the VP and her activities

CHEERS TO several media outlets who reported Vice President Sara Duterte’s conspicuous absence and the clueless response of her office when asked about her whereabouts.

A safe SONA, a cautious press

PRESIDENT FERDINAND Marcos Jr. delivered his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, 2025, filling an hour and 11 minutes with feel-good updates on rice subsidies, infrastructure buildup, and the increased use of digitalization for governance. It seemed clear he did not wish to reckon with...

As floodwaters rose, media failed to focus on flood control

JULY OPENED the rainy season with simultaneous storms hitting the country. Cruising, Dante, and Emong all caused floodwaters to rise rapidly around the city. On July 28, media reports highlighted the president’s anger about the failure of the country’s flood-control projects.

Shadow over sabong: How media tracked the disappearances to discover a mass murder

MORE THAN three years have passed since the disappearance of some 32 sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts was first reported in the news. With a lack of evidence to move the story forward, the news waned, overtaken by other developments. On June 17, a whistleblower came forward telling the story...

Media fuel Castro-Duterte word war but fail to discuss issues

JEERS TO the media for allowing the “word war” between the Malacañang and Vice President Sara Duterte to take up as much space and time as given in their coverage, instead of focusing on the issues reflected in the verbal dispute between the two officials.