2 OCTOBER 2008 PJR REPORTS EDITOR’S NOTE PUBLISHED BY THE CENTER FOR MEDIA FREEDOM & RESPONSIBILITY Melinda Quintos de Jesus Preparing for 2010 Publisher COMMON complaint among many Filipinos is ticians would assign to them. They can make electoral Luis V. Teodoro not only that there’s too much politics in these isles; choices more meaningful by providing the public the infor- Editor Athere’s also too much of it too soon. The 2010 elec- mation it needs for decision-making in 2010. Specifically, Hector Bryant L. Macale tions are more than a year away, for example. But the would- the media need to provide the electorate a sense of what the Assistant Editor be candidates, especially for the Presidency, are already candidates stand for, because rather than in the political preparing for them, presumably by amassing the huge parties, it is among the individual politicians where the JB Santos amounts needed to wage—in the less than happy phrasing differences in approaches to governance have been evident, Melanie Y. Pinlac of the Commission on Elections—“a credible campaign.” though admittedly rarely. Rather than the exception, the Kathryn Roja G. Raymundo Edsel Van DT. Dura Capturing, consolidating, and enhancing the complex po- programs and platforms some candidates have presented Reporters litical machinery that can make the difference between vic- must be the rule. tory and defeat as well as getting one’s name into the public’s As early as it may seem, the media need to prepare now Arnel Rival consciousness have also begun—a twin but related pro- for meaningful coverage in 2010. Art Director cess that, among other consequences, will inevitably taint There is no lack of civil society groups that can arm the Lito Ocampo every act, episode, and aspect of governance from now un- media with the understanding of the issues that the candi- Photographer til May 10, 2010. dates need to address, as well as to educate the electorate in The media are especially crucial in the latter process. making informed choices by, among other efforts, provid- Carol M. Paragele The Philippine media are a major arena of political struggle, ing it information on what each candidate has stood for in Editorial Secretary despite their many limitations. Philippine broadsheets may the past, and stands for today. Additionally, the media can Jose Abueva have limited reach and the daily issuances of broadcast be proactively informative by themselves identifying the is- Joaquin Bernas, SJ news ephemeral. But there is nevertheless a sense that they sues that need to be addressed, and by providing an analy- Melinda Quintos de Jesus influence decision-making on matters of public interest, no sis of the state of Philippine society, a critique of the policies Fulgencio Factoran matter if the extent of this influence is difficult to establish of the Arroyo government, and an assessment of each Maribel Ongpin with any degree of scientific accuracy. Perception is all, candidate’s program. Tina Monzon Palma Paulynn Paredes Sicam however, and as early as this year the personalities eyeing The complaint that it is too early to discuss politics misses Luis V. Teodoro 2010 are doing all they can to land in the media. the point. Politics in the sense of how power is used and for Vergel O. Santos The surest way to do so is through involvement in some what purpose is a constant in governance, whether elec- Board of Advisers scandal or the other, and it doesn’t matter whether one is tions are being held or not. The media in fact need to sharpen the accuser or accused. As classical communication theory their understanding of the nature of political power in this has established, being in the news is what matters in terms country and the uses to which it has been put for them to of name recall. Thus the effort to get into the media, which succeed, with civil society help, in pushing the politicians in far too many cases amounts to the media’s being ma- into developing the programs and platforms that can pull nipulated by the usual media handlers who today have the country out of the rut it’s in. become regular features of the staffs of every candidate for national office. And yet the media can transcend this role that the poli- Luis V. Teodoro The PJR Reports (Philippine Journalism Review Reports) is published by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. All mail should be addressed to: PRESSED FREEDOM By Manix Abrera PJR Reports Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility 2/F Ateneo Professional Schools, 130 H.V. dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227 Phones: (632) 840-0889/(632) 840-0903 (632) 894-1314/(632) 894-1326 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.cmfr-phil.org PJR Reports welcomes feedback and contributions on press and media issues. 5PJR REPORTS OCTOBER 2008 3 IN THIS SPEAKING OF ISSUE MEDIA PJR REPORTS OCTOBER 2008 The Prez on the press of the opportunity to post bail and to let him stew overnight in jail. “TASK FORCE 211 and our various law “Once is happenstance, but twice is enforcement agencies need the support no longer coincidence. Some people, not Fourth Citizens Press Council Takes Off and cooperation of all stakeholders if we necessarily the complainants, are clearly KATHRYN ROJA G. RAYMUNDO ..................................................................................... are to end these killings once and for all.... sending a message. But if they believe 6 We will stop at nothing to protect the Macasaet or this newspaper can be cowed lives of our nation’s media men and by this arrogant display of power, they The Lozada and Neri Decisions women.” have another thing coming. “We call it as we see it. And libel Against the Right to Know President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in her speech during the 100th anniversary of the charges, especially of the harassment JB SANTOS WITH REPORTS FROM EDSEL VAN DT. DURA ................................................... 8 Philippines Free Press Publishing, kind, be damned.” Low Pay, Long Hours http://www.macapagal.com, Aug. 27 Malaya, on the Sept. 4 arrest of publisher Amado Macasaet over two libel cases, Sept. 6. Killing Them Softly Legal harrasment Macasaet has posted bail for both. MELANIE Y. PINLAC ......................................................................................................... 10 “JAKE MACASAET is probably one of Reporting on the Olympic delegates Challenge to the Media the few publishers of dailies with a na- tional circulation in opposing a proposal “WHILE I respect the freedom of speech Civil Society Initiatives for 2010 Begin to decriminalize libel. He says going to that we practice, I would ask that we also KATHRYN ROJA G. RAYMUNDO ...................................................................................................... 10 court is the proper recourse of a person consider the implications of the pointed who feels he has been maligned by a pen when an article demeans the efforts Commentary publication. He says it is the only way a of our Olympians. Each and every one of Needed: Journalistic Blogging citizen can protect himself from an abu- the 15 Olympian went there with the no- DANILO ARAÑA ARAO ....................................................................................................... 11 sive press. He says fair’s fair—if we in tion of doing his best. All of them invested the press can dish it out, then we should years of training to achieve their dream be able to take it. of being an Olympian. Perhaps some of Planting the Seeds of Ethical Practice “Macasaet and some staffers of this them had dreams of even being a medal- WINIFREDO LIWANAG LUIS ............................................................................................ 16 paper were among the two score or so ist. And perhaps some of them who are journalists serially haled to court by still young enough still have that dream. Mike Arroyo last year. When Mike of- But let’s not spoil that dream and, per- fered to drop the cases in what the Palace haps, be more constructive with the REGULAR SECTIONS said was an act of charity and forgive- power of the pen and ask the questions as ness after a life-threatening illness, to what can be done better toward our Macasaet instructed Malaya lawyers to Editor’s Note................................................................................................................... 2 quest for future medals…and keep that agree to Arroyo’s offer insofar at it cov- dream realistic…but keep that dream Speaking of Media.............................................................................................. 3 ered the staff. For himself, Macasaet told alive.” the lawyers to oppose Arroyo’s motion Monitor............................................................................................................................. 4 Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr., chairman of the to drop and to ask the court to proceed to Crisis...................................................................................................................................... 14 Philippine Basketball Association(PBA) and trial. owner of the Alaska Team, Chronicle.................................................................................................................. 15 “He said it was not for Arroyo to de- BusinessMirror, Sept. 9 clare him guilty or innocent. He said such Obit................................................................................................................................. 15 a determination can only be made by the