PPTRP meets with editors and columnists May 18 to discuss media coverage of public corruption

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PPTRP meets with editors and columnists May 18 to discuss media coverage of public corruption

IWPR

Monday, 30 May 2011

The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project met with editors and columnists of selected national and international media organizations May 18 in Manila to discuss current media behavior and thinking in relation to public corruption and transparency.

Present at the PPTRP’s first consultation meet with editors and columnists were Inday Espina-Varona, head of ABS CBN’s Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo; Nonoy Espina, senior editor of InterAksyon, TV 5’s online news site; Rowena Hidalgo-Otilda, desk editor of TV 5; Jarius Bondoc, columnist of Philippine Star; Joy Delos Reyes, editor-in-chief of Malaya; Yasmin Arquiza, managing editor of GMA News Online; Benjie Liwanag, senior correspondent of DZBB Super Radyo; Oliver Teves, reporter of Associated Press; and Hernan Melencio, editor of Union of Catholic Asian News.

Also present at the consultation meeting at the Annabel’s Restaurant were Alan Davis, PPTRP director and Institute for War and Peace Reporting head of Asia; Red Batario, executive director of Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD), one of the four implementing partners of PPTRP; Tina Manalang, program manager of the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI); Rorie Fajardo, PPTRP manager; and Angel Carballo, PPTRP coordinator.

The participants agreed that members of the media were watching the Aquino administration during its early days last year, coming out victorious from using campaign promises to clean the government from corruption and to make it more transparent to the people.

Varona said that unlike the Aquino administration, the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo rode high with the euphoria of the People Power 2 which ousted Joseph Estrada and catapulted her to power. But the people’s regard for the Arroyo administration easily eroded after a year, she said, adding that the “falling out of love” between Arroyo and the media was not because of corruption issues per se, but on issues on terrorism and on her reneged promise not to run for reelection.

Bondoc said the media both in the early days of the Arroyo and Aquino administrations were similarly euphoric. But administrations have been similar such that they do only vicious attacks on their political opponents. While media were trying to be objective in their coverage, Bondoc said they are also being attacked for covering both sides.

When asked whether media inevitably get cynical of administrations, Bondoc pointed out that the current administration seemed to have simply relaxed after winning and getting into power and has forgotten all its promises. “It has failed to connect the fight against corruption with the fight against poverty.”

Espina of InterAksyon took note of the “signals” the Aquino administration is sending to the media: “They complain about media’s supposed negative coverage vs. positive coverage, such as the military corruption. Aquino seemed to be sending the message that ‘I really didn’t like to be here, but you voted for me so why complain?’”

TV 5’s Otilda said corruption could not be fought if the government settles for the same people who hold the record of being corrupt. Bondoc said that the current administration has done nothing to elude any other scam, considering that there is still corruption as shown in recent surveys.

The participants also tackled issues including the President’s buying of Porsche, which generated flak from some sections of the public. “Noynoy raised very high expectations during the campaign, so naturally there would be reactions. Good intention is just one thing,” said Arquiza of GMA News Online. Teves of AP, on the other hand, pointed out that such news would naturally attract media attention, but that does not necessarily mean that media are cynical of his administration.

The participants agreed that the Aquino administration should consider looking into the following if it is indeed serious in contributing legacies in anti-corruption in next five years:

Strengthening structures for accountability and transparency – cleaning up the Ombudsman; maintaining liaisons with key transparency agencies such as the Ombudsman, Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Audit
Formulating and implementing a system-wide plan against corruption, including looking into the controversial pork barrel, dealing with local officials
Holding an anti-corruption summit calling on all departments and branches.

Delos Reyes of Malaya said that although media are constantly looking at corruption in the executive and legislative departments, “corruption in the judiciary is worse. No Ombudsman could touch anyone in the bench.”

Another area where the current administration would be assessed is its performance in relation to the clamor to pass freedom of information law in the Philippines. It will be remembered that Aquino during the presidential campaign expressed support for FOI, a position which later changed when he assumed office.

The editors also discussed the alleged maneuvering of news linked to the Ampatuan massacre due to influence of the clan. They said that moving on to another news is the natural cycle in the news rooms, but this does not mean that media coverage is dying down. They also said no public relations could successfully have a news blackout, even the supposed PR of the influential Ampatuans.

Despite these challenges in covering and reporting the new administration, a good development is that more and more media organizations are now doing investigative reporting, Bondoc said.

The participants also said the evolving technology and social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter has contributed in the faster collection and dissemination of information.

Varona of Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo also said the public is now becoming more assertive when it comes to issues on public corruption and transparency. The challenge, however, is using language which the ordinary people understand. She encouraged civil society organizations and citizens anti-corruption groups to translate their information to the local languages.

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Project Partners

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