Cabaero: Question on drug list

THE Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) posed this question: “Is it fair for the media to publish the alleged ‘narco-politicians’ list before they're formally charged?”

It was about President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncements a week ago on the identities of more than 150 people believed to be involved in the drug trade. They included judges, local officials and police personnel. They were named, told to report to the police in 24 hours, but no charges were filed against them.

The CMFR, a non-profit organization that promotes responsible journalism and upholds press freedom, sought answers to this question in a poll on social media. Results showed that 77 percent answered “no” it was not fair while 23 percent said “yes,” but there was no mention of the number of respondents.

After Duterte released the names, there were questions on the propriety of the President’s actions because no charges were filed, the list needed more checking, and those named could become targets for the police or vigilantes.

Let’s take a look at what transpired around 1 a.m. last Sunday. The President spoke before soldiers in Davao City and his speech was aired live over government television without editing. it was then that he started revealing the names.

What the President says, especially in a public forum such as that, is taken as official because what he says could form part of policy. The press has to report on it because his statements can have an impact on society.

If the press didn’t report it, social media could take over and quickly spread the information, as presented, on who are the officials said to be involved in illegal drugs.

The advantage of having media publish the list is that they are required to check information, exercise caution by qualifying statements or by adding context or background, for a more rounded reporting of presidential pronouncements. Not all media organizations, however, care to do it right. For those who do, they are able to help in the checking of facts.

This is what separates the reports made by journalists from posts of some of those in social media. Journalists are expected to present the bigger picture, be more than a mere recorder of events, so there can be a better understanding of the situation. Social media users, at least some of them, may write based on what they heard or saw, guided by the need to be first to post or share.

The CMFR, in its article titled “Guilty until proven innocent: Media as unwitting accessory” dated August 12, cited how some media organizations did the right thing by withholding publication of the list or checking first the status of the persons in it. Sun.Star was one of the local media organizations mentioned as doing the responsible thing.

Yes, the President uses his immunity from suit to boldly identify those involved in the drug trade even if no charges were filed. If media do not write it, the list would somehow come out on social media. If media reported on it, there is at least the expectation that care was exerted in presenting the information.

(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)

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