Speaking of Media

On the conviction of Esperat’s killers
“This is an important victory that, if followed through and allowed to create momentum, can hopefully stem the tide of journalist killings in the Philippines. There is an environment of impunity that is encouraging attacks on journalists and human rights workers in the Philippines, and without positive developments such as what we now have in the Esperat case, that climate can only worsen.”
Southeast Asian Press Alliance, Oct. 6

“We are hopeful that this victory for press freedom will set a solid example for future trials of journalist killers and send a strong message to those who seek to silence the media through brutal murders that they will be brought to justice.”
International Federation of Journalists, Oct 6

On journalist killings
“I don’t know why our national media can’t bestir itself and go beyond token condemnations of the murders of the journalists in the countryside—which, to repeat, is where they are happening—and form a team from the different newspapers, TV and radio stations to investigate the murder of at least one journalist who was patently doing his job. Preferably with the backing of our organizations—we can forget government intervention, we will be hindered, not helped, by it—and the moral, if not financial, backing of the international media and human rights organizations. I don’t know why we can’t publish or air our findings locally and internationally and make the killers at least morally reprehensible and at most legally indictable.”
Conrado de Quiros, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Oct. 5

On libel
“The question now is whether or not decriminalizing libel is the answer to the spate of libel suits against media men.
“I don’t believe so. In fact, I would even support a move to increase the penalty for libel under the Revised Penal Code if only to make people, especially members of the press, more circumspect in their criticisms against public officials and personalities…
“The problem of some members of the press is that while they preach press freedom and the right of free expression, they forget that other people too, even public officials and personalities, also have the right to protect their honor and reputation, even their privacy.”
Emil Jurado, Manila Standard Today, Oct. 20

“Decriminalizing libel will only make judges less conscience-stricken in deciding against journalists since the latter will not be going to jail anyway but will only be made to pay fines and damages. And therein lies the booby trap. While a criminal case needs proof beyond reasonable doubt to convict, a civil case needs only a preponderance of evidence. And the judges will be more liberal in awarding damages to complainants—especially if they (the complainants) will share some of the amount with the judges. At least two newspapers in the United States went bankrupt because of generous damages awarded by civil courts to complainants.”
Neal Cruz, Inquirer, Oct. 16

“The cases filed by Mike Arroyo are unprecedented in that they represent the highest number of respondents in the history of the Philippine press. The omnibus attack shocks and appalls even the most hard-boiled veteran Filipino journalists.”
Amando Doronila,  Inquirer, Oct. 6

On media ownership
“We are in favor of the entry of foreign investors into mass media because it would infuse much needed capital into these organizations and make possible the acquisition of the latest equipment and technology. Modern technology, in turn, would help Philippine mass media disseminate news and information more quickly and more efficiently.
“Foreign ownership should be limited to 60 percent, however…Allowing 100-percent foreign ownership could be dangerous because foreign interests may then be in a position to inordinately influence Philippine politics, the economy and society…
“The entry of foreign investors in mass media would make it possible for media entities to send more Filipino journalists as correspondents in the key cities of the world. At present, with their limited financial resources, the mass media can afford to maintain correspondents in only a few cities. With increased financing, the mass media would be able to raise the number of their correspondents abroad, and their reporting would then have a more comprehensive and extensive global cast. In this age when the world has become one big global media village, the Philippine media cannot afford to be parochial in their coverage.”
Inquirer editorial, Oct. 17

“No one can argue that foreign media companies can boost media salaries. But it won’t necessarily reform corrupt practitioners, some of whom are the highest paid in the country. Low salaries are not the only reason for media corruption. A culture that assumes that media people are entitled to all sorts of perks, including easy money, is the primary culprit. Foreign ownership can’t cure that…
“It should be obvious that what reality and whose reality is presented through the media are decided by who own and control them. The framers of the 1987 Constitution probably had that in mind.
“The issues that confront nations are in these times mediated primarily by the mass media, which if controlled by competing interests can present a plurality of views rather than a single, dominant perspective. Foreign dominance can lead to precisely such a perspective—the viewpoint of the global media giants—divorced from such Filipino concerns as, for example, the integrity of the electoral system, and mending the creaky economy.”
Luis V. Teodoro, BusinessMirror, Oct. 17

“With all due respect to Mr. Ermita, it is likewise doubtful whether foreigners will be interested in local media just to ‘improve their management,’ or to put in foreign capital just to ‘fix up mass media.’ Why will they? What’s in it for them? Will it make sense to throw good money after bad? Unless they’re out to buy influence for one reason or the other, it won’t make sense for any big foreign media outfit or even a non-media investor to put up either a new newspaper or a TV station or even to buy majority stake in any existing media organization.”
Marvin A. Tort, Sway, BusinessMirror, October 18

“Secretary Ermita is said to have cited the mass media as an example of how decades-old foreign equity restrictions in the Constitution have hampered the country’s economic development.
“I am sure Ermita would deny having uttered such stupid nonsense. This country has had lackadaisical economic development because of poor choices in economic policies and strategies in the past 50 years, not because of constitutional restrictions against foreign ownership of media.”
Antonio C. Abaya, Manila Standard Today, Oct. 19

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