Philippine Journalism in the 1990s: the Problems of a Free Press
by The history of Philippine journalism is defined by the influences of the Nineteenth Century European press, when newspapers were the carriers of liberal ideas and were the centers of political activities. Over the next century, newspapers proliferated during periods of wars, revolutions, and upheavals. Successive wave of colonizers – the Spaniards, the Americans, and the Japanese – used the press to promote colonial agenda and to impose severe censorship.
Unfortunately, the media war is being fought increasingly through the power of the politician’s purse. With the advertising ban imposed on candidates, politicians cannot buy space or time to propagate their ideologies. Instead, they buy journalists. The battle is no longer over advertising space or time. It is over the news pages of newspapers and periodicals and the news hours on radio and television.
A 1998 survey of 100 beat reporters conducted by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism showed that 71 had been offered money by their news sources. Of these, 33 percent admitted that they took the money, with 22 percent keeping the cash themselves, and 11 percent turning it over to their editors.
The generally low pay of journalists in comparison to other professions is partly responsible for this situation. However, other factors, including the reluctance of editors and publishers to enforce ethical standards should also be cited.
As the 1990s end, the media are still troubled by old problems. The Committee to Protect Journalist based in New York puts the number of Filipino journalists killed since 1986 at 39. Some of them were killed not because of their job, but were likely casualties of the waves of criminality that have swept the country.
After 1986, nongovernmental organizations led by journalists themselves have launched programs and projects to address the issues of press development. These include the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and the Policy Review and Editorial Support Services.
On the other hand, the National Press Club formed an ethics committee to probe charges of payoffs to its members, but its recommendations have been largely ignored. The Philippine Press Institute promoted a system of ombudsmen, but these press officers have little influence in their media organizations.
However, press developments will be limited if the readers do not demand more than sensationalized news stories. Newspaper publishers are aware that readers neither read news stories critically nor write to complain about inaccuracies and false reports. Outside of the efforts of the media organizations to raise the quality of their services, media literacy training and newspaper campaigns would promote a more demanding and thoughtful readership. With consumer pressure, newspapers will be forced to create a better mass media product.
Lastly, journalists can rely on a strong public support to defend a free press, but they must exercise greater responsibility, if they want a continuing public sympathy. There have been some attempts to address the problems of ethics and professionalism through the drawing up of Codes of Ethics and through training programs that hone investigative reporting skills. However, most observers of the Philippine media think these efforts do not suffice. After 16 years of democracy, they realize that it takes time – and great effort – to build a truly professional corps of journalists and that professional journalism is possible only if the press is free.
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