Journalism Review Archives | Page 72 of 159

Updated drug war numbers: One source of confusion

THE NUMBERS cited as victims of the government’s “war on drugs” have been as controversial as the campaign to eradicate illegal drugs. The killing of so many drug personalities and suspects prompted criticism from national and international groups. With so many drug personalities and suspects killed, the Philippine National...

A lack of media attention: Duterte’s threat against ABS-CBN

TIME IS running out for broadcast giant ABS-CBN. With only three months left before its franchise expires, its fate is in the hands of its two loudest critics: House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and President Rodrigo Duterte. Both have accused the country’s biggest network of partiality during the 2016...

Duterte threats do not solve water problem

PRESIDENT DUTERTE’S angry words make colorful copy but his claims misrepresent the issues involved in the imbroglio between government and the two water concessionaires servicing the greater Manila area. Duterte threatened Manila Water and Maynilad with charges of “economic sabotage.” Speaking at the oath-taking of new government officials in...

The sacking of Leni: Not really telling it like it is

CMFR HAD cautioned the media against focusing on talking heads in covering Vice President Leni Robredo’s stint as the drug czar, as this would reduce a potential game-changer to just another show of petty personality politics. Unfortunately, reports on Robredo’s abrupt sacking reverted to form and did little more...

Quoting Quiboloy: What’s the point?

WHY WASTE the news? Jeers to several media organizations for paying attention to an absurd claim of a founder and leader of a religious group who said that he did not stop Typhoon Tisoy (Int’l name: Kammuri) — because he didn’t want to be criticized. The storm battered the...

Was Media to Blame for the “Muddle in Manila”?

THE OPENING of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games followed days of embarrassment for its organizers as headlines around the world highlighted the lack of planning and plain incompetence in the handling of arrivals and addressing the needs of participants. Tagged by foreign media as the “Muddle in Manila,”...

As PH becomes world’s biggest rice importer: Inquirer spotlights drop in agri employment

THIS YEAR, the Philippines overtook China, the world’s most populous country with a population of 1.4 billion, as the world’s top importer of rice. The media duly reported this, citing projections from the United States’ Department of Agriculture – Foreign Agricultural Services (USDA-FAS) published this November 2019. The source...

Rush to Approve: National Budget for 2020

PASSED IN a rush by the House, Senate rushes to approve. THE PHP4.1 trillion 2020 General Appropriations Act has been flagged by several lawmakers for its questionable insertions as well as drastic cuts for health and education. But the budget bill breezed through another hurdle, as noted in reports. ...

Reporting Duterte’s three-day break

RODRIGO DUTERTE is not hale and hearty at 74. But he and Palace officials seem to have taken different perspectives in presenting his health problems to the people. Duterte has admitted to a number of ailments, complaining that he’s tired; that being president is no easy task; and that...

Drug czar on the move: More analysis, in depth reporting needed

VICE PRESIDENT Leni Robredo has wasted no time since she accepted her appointment as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD). As the so-called drug czar, Robredo was tasked with taking the lead in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. The media has kept track of Robredo’s progress,...