Speaking of Media

On (not quite) giving up… or something
“It started with an e-mail sent by Jim Paredes to his large network of relatives and friends. It concerned the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s front page on him last Saturday headlined ‘Finally, APO’s Jim Paredes gives up on RP’ and by-lined Gerry Lirio.
“…Jim Paredes had valid reason to be angry and upset over the headline. It was inaccurate and unfair. It was based on the opening paragraph of Gerry’s article but it is one thing to say, as the article did, that Jim “gave up all hope for a better Philippines” and another thing to say, as the headline did, that “Finally, Apo’s Jim Paredes gives up on RP.” The first means that Jim has given up hope that the Philippines will improve; the second, that Jim has given up on his country, period.
“The Inquirer apologizes to Jim Paredes.”
Inquirer publisher Isagani Yambot, apologizing to songwriter Jim Paredes for a story written about him, Aug. 22

“With due respect to our publisher, the editors strongly disagree that the Inquirer owed Paredes an apology. While Paredes may not have said so in direct quotes, the sense of Gerry Lirio’s interview with him unmistakably delivered one message—he had given up the fight and ran away. Whether he plans to come back to fight another day—as he had promised repeatedly—remains to be seen. Until that happens, the thousands he had inspired with his patriotic songs through two decades are left holding the bag.
Our understanding is that when one migrates to another country, he intends to live, stay and work there for good. He applied for and was granted permanent residence. If permanent residence is not what he had planned in Australia, then he is abusing the generosity of his adopted country and has a lot of explaining to do to immigration authorities.
Paredes painted his own poster of hopelessness and cynicism when he wrote the article “I will return to fight another day” for the Sunday Inquirer Magazine in February and when he was quoted by Chit Estella of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism as saying he was migrating “to take a vacation from being a Filipino.”
Neither the Inquirer headline nor the story indicated it’s a crime to leave one’s country—even if it means abandoning the fight and the people he led in battle—when he feels he has lost the struggle.
For this reason, we stand by the headline.”
Artemio Engracia Jr., news editor, Inquirer, Sept. 2

“The Inquirer episode is over. They have apologized and I am content with that. I know an apology will not completely restore whatever was before. Not all the feathers that were thrown to the wind will be recovered. But the important thing for me is to move on. There is no good in crying over something like this. That was yesterday. Today is a new day. In fact, I will not even let this affect my dealings with the Inquirer in the future. Forgiveness is freedom. Not to forgive, to hate is crazy, like taking poison and wishing someone else dies. The art of letting go of baggage is a life skill which is so important to learn. And I am constantly teaching myself that.”
Jim Paredes, http://haringliwanag.pansitan.net, Aug. 24

“A column written last week by Inquirer columnist Isagani Cruz on homosexuals stirred a tempest among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups not only in this country but also in other parts of the world. Scores of e-mail letters and telephone calls were received at the Inquirer the day after the publication of the column and they have not stopped coming.
“Cruz’s column placed homosexuals in a negative light and it is only understandable that the members of the group should protest violently against it. But we believe that the controversy may yet result in something good for the homosexual community, in that it may focus attention on and lead to the alleviation of their plight.
“…Like women, who have suffered discrimination for ages, homosexuals are also human beings like the rest of us. Those who would discriminate against LGBT people and treat them less kindly should perhaps be reminded of the first sentence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’”
Inquirer editorial, Aug. 22

On truth-telling
“As First Gentleman Mike Arroyo spreads libel suits generously, media are having a field day. For some strange reason, there are those who are doing their darnedest to tie up the libel suits with the freedom of the press issue. For some even stranger reason, there are those who are insinuating that the libel suits are silly.
“…I’m not talking here of guilt or innocence. There are those too dumb, or too manipulative, who will jump at the opportunity to say I am attacking those who are trying to tell the truth. Which truth? Truth is, no one knows who is innocent or guilty of what in politics. The way political games are played, no one is totally innocent. Mr. Arroyo may be guilty as hell but it is just as possible that he is, in fact, being wrongly accused. Not one of us is privy to the facts. Not one of us has personal knowledge of the truth or falsity of the accusations. I simply hate how media and politicians are toying with us and making us pass judgment on someone’s guilt or innocence by expecting us to simply take their word for it. Telling the truth, whether in media or in plenary halls, is much, much more than just making accusations.”
Connie Veneracion, Manila Standard Today, Aug. 24

On favored access
“Favored access is a defense against the rudeness of inquisition. As Bunye sagely put it, freedom of the press does not deprive officials, particularly the President, freedom of choice. It’s neither normal nor rational for an official to grant access to what he or she regards as unfriendly, critical, or hostile media. An administration Patrick Henry may very well cry, ‘If this be favoritism, make the most of it!’
“The new dictum has the merit of making media people more investigative, resourceful, and inventive within the limits of libel and personal safety. After all, government and the press have different roles: One side conceals in the name of national security and the other reveals in the name of freedom and the right to know.
“Ne’er the twain shall meet.”
Adrian Cristobal, Manila Bulletin, Aug. 6

Islamic voices
“The articulate, rational voices of Islamism are therefore systematically ignored or the multiplicity of voices within Muslim communities overlooked. When television journalism chooses to engage with Islamist movements, they often concentrate on its most frustrated fringes without locating them within a broader and social context. The authorized spokesmen of the Islamic movements, who can reduce these distances, are all too often viewed as too diplomatic and are dismissed when they do not conform to stereotypes.
“The Philippines is a case in point, where several Muslim anti-state groups are sometimes treated as one, under the label “Muslim,” absorbing the majority who are apolitical among them. This is contrary to one survey which notes that Muslim-Filipinos would primarily identify themselves based on ethnicity, not sympathy to a revolutionary group.
“…The Moro Times is an effort to counter an elite media—to say minorities should not feel minoritized, to write news that matter, to celebrate what’s best and in the process create better harmonious communities through information exchange. It’s work that should have come a long time ago, and maybe we would have avoided the wars that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.”
Writer and academician Samira Gutoc, on the first issue of The Manila Times section, “The Moro Times,”, July 28

Relief needed
“The community journalist and his organization, mostly financially handicapped and already afflicted with all sorts of pressures and threats, need immediate relief from the present rule on venue of libel cases, whether criminal or civil, which create an opportunity for oppression.”
Cebu Rep. Raul del Mar, sponsor of House Bill 77 that requires libel suits against journalists, publications, or broadcast stations to be filed at the regional trial court of the province or city where the journalist, publication, or broadcast station holds its principal office, Standard Today, Aug. 4

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