Tag: Media

Media and public trust

Published by Ellen on June 18, 2020

In one of the forums where pressure on media was discussed, the respected Luis Teodoro of the Center Media Freedom and Responsibility said the best protection for media is the people’s trust

In principle, people’s trust on media should be a given because media’s role is public service – to give the public information , as truthfully as it can- that will empower them to make decisions in the daily life including on matters of national interest.

The reality, however, is not that simple. That’s why we have a situation where media becomes a target of attacks from the government as well as other powerful forces.

Road Safety fellowship for journalists

Published by Ellen on January 30, 2017

The 2015 World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety estimates 10,379 fatalities in the country a year, half of them motorcycle riders, followed by pedestrians.

That’s more than 10,000 families deprived of a father, a mother, a brother, a sister or a member of the family, many of them were breadwinners caused by something that is preventable.

The country’s health system also share considerable burden in the treatment of injuries caused road crashes.
Just think: If the public are more road- safety- conscious, so much misery and pain could have been prevented and government resources could have been spent in other urgent needs. It could free up beds for other patients in crowded public hospitals.

Gems from Amanpour speech Filipino journalists can identify with

Published by Ellen on November 24, 2016

CNN's Christiane Amanpour — CNN’s Christiane Amanpour

CNN’s chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour has been awarded the Committee to Project Journalists’ Burton Benjamin Memorial Award for “extraordinary and sustained achievement in the cause of press freedom.” In her acceptance speech Tuesday night, she urged media to hold firm to the basic values of journalism: “As a profession, let’s fight for what is right. Let’s fight for our values. Bad things do happen when good people do nothing.”

Here are some more of the gems from her speech which Filipino journalists can identify with:

Stop banalizing the Truth

“I believe in being truthful, not neutral. And I believe we must stop banalizing the truth.
And we have to be prepared to fight especially hard for the truth in a world where the Oxford English Dictionary just announced its word of 2016: “post-truth.”

Why reporters are persistent in press conferences

Published by Ellen on June 5, 2016

President -elect Rodrigo Duterte May 29 presscon. Lower photo shows GMA7's Mariz Umali asking a question. — President -elect Rodrigo Duterte May 29 presscon. Lower photo shows GMA7’s Mariz Umali asking a question.

In press conferences, there are times when reporters are persistent with their questioning, annoying the official especially if it’s on a topic that he dislikes.

A reporter’s persistence is not for persistence’s sake. It is not caprice.

A reporter pursues a subject to clarify so that he or she can give the public the information correctly and clearly. Reporters always ask for categorical answers to avoid misinterpretation. Because it is the duty of the journalist to make sure that his or her reports are accurate- a basic in journalism.

Reporters covering President-elect Rodrigo Duterte have been criticized for being soft on him. Some, yes. Even fawning. But not all.
Watching his late night to mid-morning press conferences that are one or two hour monologues, I sympathize with reporters covering him. One needs not only an ample reserve of stamina but nerves of steel not to get intimidated by his manners which border rudeness.
Take the case of GMA-7 Mariz Umali, the subject of the president-elect’s wolf-whistling.

Always be responsible: challenge to media of increased public trust

Published by Ellen on November 3, 2014

The PDAF and DAP scandals have a lot to do with the increase in the trust of the people on media, the decline of the same for the government and continued distrust for non-government organizations.

The 2014 Philippine Trust Index conducted by EON showed that media is third most trusted institution with 33 percent, up from 32 per cent last year. First is the Church, which includes not only Catholic Church but also other denominations, with 75 percent, up from last year’s 68 percent.

Academe comes second with 53 percent, up from last year’s 45 percent.

The least trusted institution is the government with 11 percent, down from 15 per cent last year, followed by NGO with 12 percent, the same as last year’s.

We will sorely miss Joe Pavia

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2011

Our condolence to the family of Joe Pavia, a fellow advocate of press freedom.

Jose has been sick for quite some time but he was always with us, even in rallies, calling for justice for journalists who were killed in the Nov 2009 Ampatuan massacre.

Joe, as everybody calls him, passed away early morning of April 18 of complications from lung at the UERM Hospital. He was 72 years old.

His remains lay at the Arlington Chapel on Araneta Avenue. Necrological service will be on Thursday, 6 p.m. to be led by the Philippine Press Institute, where Joe served as executive director until his death.

In a tribute to Joe, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said “His death leaves a gnawing void in the community of press freedom.”

Finally, E.O on communications group released

Published by Ellen on August 10, 2010

Finally, Executive Order No. 4 was released yesterday “reorganizing and renaming the office of the press secretary as the presidential communications operations office; creating the presidential communications development and strategic planning office; and for other purposes.”

Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma heads the Presidential Communications Operations (PCO).

Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang is Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary (PCDSP). His deputy is Manuel “Manolo” L. Quezon III.

Both Coloma and Carandang hold cabinet rank and they will each have separate budgets. They will be working hand-in-hand with the Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

It’s Carandang and Coloma

Published by Ellen on July 10, 2010

It looks like a compromise arrangement. Good luck!

From ABS-CBN:

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has finally formed his communications group, according to ABS-CBN sources.

Former Presidential Management Staff chief Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, who served under President Cory Aquino’s administration, is set to handle media operations.

Former ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) news anchor Ricky Carandang, meanwhile, will strategize and craft government’s messages.

Palace officials, however, refused to confirm the report, saying they will issue a statement on Monday.

“On the communications group, all will be announced on Monday,” said Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

In a text message, Coloma suggested that the public wait for the official announcement.

“It’s premature to confirm, no appointment has been made. Best to wait for official announcement,” he said.

Bawal mapikon

Published by Ellen on July 6, 2010

Sa gitna ng maliit lang naman na gulo sa media ng ilang gabinete ni Pangulong Aquino, dapat lang natin purihin ang pagbabalik ng pagkabukas ng bagong pamahalaan sa media na nawala ng panahon ni Gloria Arroyo.

Ang gaan-gaan ng pakiramdam na hindi ka makikipag-away papunta palang sa coverage.

Natural lang na may kunting girian sa simula dahil hindi pa sanay sa istilo ng bawat isa. Ngunit maganda ang payo ni Mike Toledo, spokesperson ni dating pangulong Estrada, kay Edwin Lacierda, tagapagsalita ni Aquino ngayon: “Bawal mapikon”.

Magkakaroon ng seminar daw ang mga miyembro ng gabinete ni Aquino tungkol sa media. Mabuti naman kasi iba-iba kasi ang ating personalidad. Minsan kahit maganda ang iyong intensyun, sa pagsasalita, iba ang dating.

Not forgetting the Maguindanao massacre

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2010

Tomorrow,Sunday,will be the sixth month of the Maguindanao massacre that claimed the lives of at least 57 people, 30 of them journalists.

Justice still eludes the victims and their families. The perpetrators of the heinous crime, members of the powerful Ampatuan family, are in jail but attempts to evade accountability persist.

To maintain the momentum of the quest for justice for the victims, a media outfit hosts the commemoration every 23rd of the month. This Sunday, Malaya Business Insight, leads in the prayers and renewal of our demand for accountability. It will be held in front of the office of Malaya on Railroad corner 20th streets in Port Area, Manila at 6 p.m.