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Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Press freedom under siege
By Edwin G. Espejo
IN THE last 30 days or so, we saw the multi-faceted dangers and challenges that are confronting the country's fragile and threatened mass media.
From subtle manipulation to veiled and imminent threat to established mainstream mass media and, to a larger extent, outright extermination of members of press.
This culminated into the issuance of Presidential Proclamation 1017 last month by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the country ironically prepares "to celebrate the restoration of democracy" through the first Edsa revolt.
While the infamous order has since been rescinded, it did not in any way prevent members of the working press from raising their arms in virulent protest.
Early in the month of February, we saw ratings war between two of the country's largest television network shoot to its apex with the tragic stampede at the Ultra in Pasig.
While this event may totally be unrelated to the attempt to stifle the free press, it has a significant impact on the way the people are being fed with information and entertainment.
Incidentally, the unfortunate Ultra event occurred right in the middle of a summit where the working press (including publishers and editors) and advertisers were taking a third look -- it was the third of its kind in as many years - at state of the mass media in relations to its "market."
Media and the market
Over the last three years, editors, publishers, and advertisers have been holding dialogue to thresh out the seemingly irreconcilable differences between editorial and advertising.
In an industry where revenues remain the top concern of media owners, editors are always on the guard against encroachment of management into the editorial content of their newspapers and broadcast stations.
Editors have legitimate concerns.
Advertisements and commercials are, and will remain, the main source of revenues for media outlets.
During the Media Nation 3 summit held in Clark, Pampanga last February 3 and 4, Nielsen Media Research distributed a recent survey indicating an increase in media spending of consumer-based company giants targeting a large spectrum of Filipino households but concentrating mainly on the CDE market or low income groups.
Not surprisingly, a large chuck of the advertising pie goes to the top two television stations, the top three radio network and the top three national broadsheets.
In 2005, ads placements in both the print and broadcast media significantly increased by 23 per cent with television registering a hefty 28 per cent based on rate cards according to Nielsen Media Research.
Translated into pesos, this totaled to a staggering P138 billion advertising expenditures in 2005 alone.
Television continued to dominate these ad placements, accounting for 75 per cent of the total advertising pie. Radio came in a distant second with 16 per cent and the rest, nine per cent, went to print.
The research study done by Nielsen likewise revealed that the top ads spenders are consumer-based companies with shampoos and other hair treatment products topping the list with P16.4 billion expenditures.
In these days of rapidly developing communication and technology, it is not surprising that industry players, such as Globe and Smart, are right behind with P15.7 billion exposure.
Jay Bautista of Nielsen Media research said national ratings of both print and broadcast media will have significant impact on the industry in the coming years.
An editor of a national broadsheet, in fact commented, that some sections in their newspapers have already become an advertisers haven under the guise of "advertorial."
Yet, editors can only complain that much.
After all, "newspapering" is, first and foremost, a business venture.
All is not lost, however.
Jose Pavia of the Philippine Press Institute said for as long as members of the newsroom community stick to the basic principles of their craft, editorial independence should continue to thrive.
"(We should) stick to the basic of our craft. (That is) context, characters, consequence and commitment," he told fellow delegates to the summit.
And not all advertisers are ratings-crazy.
Boy Pangilinan of Campaigns and Grey said advertisers, too, want a credible and socially-responsible media.
He said advertisers are willing to bankroll intelligent and socially-relevant news and public affairs program and would want to see more of them during prime time in both TV and radio.
They are also willing to place ads in serious newspapers and magazines.
But, he adds, at the end of day, if these will not sell, the advertisers will have to pull out.
He said editors should continue to improve their craft to maintain the attention span of their audience and readers.
Which leads us to conclude that advertisers and their models and endorsers have as much responsibility as the men and women in the news beat and newsrooms.
That is where people in the entertainment industry play a major responsibility in the lives of people.
Just take a look at what happened in Ultra.
Endangered species
But do members of the working press have the choices given the prevailing conditions in the country today?
It is significant to note that during the last five years -- under the Arroyo administration -- more media people were killed than under all the presidents before her.
As of the last count, more than 65 media men and women were already slain while in the line of duty or because of their work.
The National Union of Journalist in the Philippines (NUJP) said the country is the second most dangerous place for the working press -- next only to war torn Iraq.
Unfortunately, of the many cases of media slayings, only one or two have resulted into conviction. Majority of these cases remain unsolved.
Yet, the government, particularly the Arroyo administration, has not gone out of its way to seriously pursue these cases and bring the perpetrators into the bars of justice.
Seeming government inaction has only emboldened others with criminal intent to go on a murderous spree.
In fact, Presidential Proclamation No. 1017 only reinforced suspicions that the government is out to muzzle the press.
Marcosian tactics
While the state has the inherent right to protect itself against rebellion, it should not come at the expense of the free press.
Clearly, Arroyo's recent direct and subtle and "persuasive" attacks on the press during the height of the so called national state of emergency only betray her lack of appreciation of history. Or better still, her fetish of being in the wrong side of history.
Proclamation 1017, although already lifted, is just a hairline short of the infamous Presidential Proclamation 1081 issued by deposed strongman Ferdinand Marcos placing the entire country under the state of martial law.
Why, even the dispositive portion of her proclamation is lifted virtually from the Marcosian edict.
Right after she issued PP 1017, police raided the office and printing press of The Daily Tribune. Police never left the premises, not until the assailed order was lifted.
Also during the height of the Fort Bonifacio standoff between a bemedalled Philippine Marine officer and his men and the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, ABS-CBN reported that they were pressured by Malacañang to tone down its coverage of the unfolding drama.
Justice secretary Raul Gonzales even threatened to takeover public utilities, including media outlets, to prevent "rebel leaders" from airing seditious statements.
Again, life is full of irony. Arroyo, who was thrust into power through a popular revolt, is now turning her back and venting her ire against the very mode of her ascendancy to power.
Including silencing of the press.
That, the media people would not allow, according to several news organization and media workers.
Whether Arroyo will be successful in gagging the media still remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: today's working press will not back down and won't give up their freedom without a fight.
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(March 13, 2006 issue)
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