NEWS ORGANIZATIONS had a heyday when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was photographed by the police as a record of her arrest for Philippine electoral sabotage in 2007. What particularly caught my attention though was the mentioning of former President Estrada’s incarceration, a parallel narration of his past record, and complete with a mugshot in one newspaper, side by side with GMA's case. A TV news broadcaster reported the same topic heavily.
History of Philippine Journalism
Journalists in our country have a long history dating back to the Spanish era when the revolutionaries were printing their own newspaper questioning the colonial policies in the country. Then during the American period, the journalism field flourished especially in the English writing sector. Many columnists and writers learned the craft easily as their were printed liberally by English newspapers. It was only during martial law that the journalistic field in our country found itself in a quandary: whether to accept or reject the administration. Accepting it was allowing itself to be told, and/or be paid handsomely, by the powers-that-be. Rejecting it was facing the consequences of censorship by the newspaper owners, or arrest and incarceration by the military under Marcos orders.
As some media practitioners pondered over their fate, others, however, were showing their bravery, writing for the underground press or putting out papers that were highly critical of that administration, never mind if they were just mimeographed. Malaya newspaper under Jose Burgos was a prime example of brave journalism at that time. Later on when Cory came into the picture, the mosquito press came about like the Mr. and Ms. which gave the true picture of the country fearlessly. However, when Cory defeated Marcos who then had fled and was flown to Hawaii by the Americans, Philippine newspaper history changed altogether – the mosquito press which flourished during the anti-dictatorship campaigns were able to strengthen their foothold in our shores while those who catered to the previous administration became more open about printing the various sides of issues. The latter was able to exist during martial law and afterwards, showing the business acumen of their publishers. "Know when to ride with the tide."
By the way, the role of media during martial law was particularly acute -- I myself had to postpone my academic pursuits in Masters in Communication in Ateneo at that time. I had asked myself then -- what is more important, studying to get a diploma or practicing communication truthfully?
Today, we are faced again with questions about the role of media in history, in society. Will media continue to be brave in reporting issues? What are the boundaries of being brave? Should being sensationalist in the treatment of issues be part of that principle to make courageous writings?
Victim Questions: Does a person who has served his/her sentence and released already have any right to protection of his/her reputation, that is his/her record no longer being mentioned at all? Does such a person have any right to question this enumeration or renarration ad nauseam again of his/her past record, including the printing of his/her police photo appearing as if he/she were a criminal who has just been arrested?
Media Questions: Are media objectives to uphold the truth, accuracy and objectivity boundless? When is a news report biased against the subject instead of being principled?
I think that there is a world of difference in treating the case of GMA and that of Pres. Estrada. The case of GMA is ongoing, and therefore the readers are entitled to know fresh events happening. However, to run that parallel to a narration of the past, does not look objective anymore. Using parallelism is a reporter's and/or editor's bias.
That parallelism is meant to lump the cases of the two as both criminals. The first is still being tried, while the other has already served his sentence, been pardoned and released, and is leading a private life.
Question: Doesn’t anyone who has served sentence no longer deserve respect in the media? Is it necessary to harp on Pres. Estrada’s past record despite the fact that he served already his sentence?
Knowledge and bias
A newspaper report can produce two things: knowledge and bias. Knowledge is that which a reader gets – the who, what, why, where, how and why of issues and events. Bias is that attitude produced from a write-up which is slanted, lacking in facts or shortcutting of facts. A biased attitude can result in distorted opinions, and for the public to hold such is to make them a fertile ground for dictatorship again, in this case, media dictatorship.
The Society of Professional Journalists has a Preamble to its Code of Ethics which states:
...public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility.
I am really wondering where fairness and honesty exist in the case above-mentioned. Putting a parallelism between the case of GMA and that of Pres. Estrada is definitely a reporter’s bias. In fact, it is highly questionable why the need to reiterate the charges against him, or why reprint his police photo.
Anyway, is there room for biased reporting in media? None of course. GMA committed a political misbehavior, a negative political practice which robbed the people of votes and that great chance to choose our own leaders. Pres. Estrada’s was economic in nature, and the funds involved were not even public money. GMA is about to serve her sentence, if ever she will be sentenced, whereas Pres. Estrada is already through with that.
Corollary to the above questions: Can an ex-prisoner not become an ordinary person upon release, possessing his/her human rights without being reminded, and the public being told of his past again and again?
Where lies compassion in our society?
Where lies media objectivity now? I do think that if Philippine journalism has to prosper, it must adhere sensitively to media principles, constantly conduct self-introspection, and be always alert to not using media for self-aggrandizement, nor for subtly oppressing people , but rather to use media for educating the readers to ethical political directions and considerations, thus empowering them as human rights literate activists.
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