Take No Prisoners in Defense of Press Freedom
Mike Banos
April 24, 2006
It?s disturbing to note how two of our local media stations have failed to significantly cover the closure last week of Radio Mindanao Network?s radio station DxVR in Valencia City by its own mayor Jose Galario, Jr.
These two stations lack of enthusiasm in this issue is significant, not only because they belong to national networks which have the capability to carry news to all corners of the archipelago, but even more because of why they did not carry this latest assault on press freedom which has constantly been under siege not only on the national scene, but even more so in localities where political kingpins seek to silence journalists reporting on corruption by the simple expediency of killing them.
One of these two media outlets claims to be the leading source of news in the region but its reportage of key events and personalities who have significantly contributed to its local/regional sales has been perfunctory, if at all. Another is a competitor of the affected network not only on the local, but the national scene as well. In short, the essence of their reluctance to cover the Valencia event is purely commercial.
Of course, one can always sympathize with the station managers whose bosses in their regional and national headquarters have made the retention of these ?political? accounts a top priority, especially in the light of the increasingly competitive media industry. But lest they and their bosses forget, it is this very press freedom, now under siege in Valencia and other places around the country, which makes it possible for them to do business.
Allow me to cite the following portion of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club?s Code of Ethics which specifically addresses this dilemma:
Personal Interest and Influence : We shall not accept any consideration, gift or advantage offered to us for the purpose of influence. In like manner, we shall disclose conflicts of interest that affect, or could be seen to affect, the accuracy, fairness or independence of our work.
Conflict of Interest : the station (or station manager?s) survival versus the people?s right to know. When one comes in conflict with the other, why does it always have to be the public whom the media has sworn to defend as Democracy?s Fourth Estate who will be sacrificed in the Altar of Survival on the flimsy excuse that lack of or shallow news reportage is better than no reportage at all in case the station (or the station manager) is shutdown or removed by its national headquarters for failure to deliver on corporate sales targets?
It is incumbent upon us as fellow journalists to call the attention of these two stations that in the fight for the defense of press freedom, there?s no such thing as a neutral side. You?re either with us or against us, and the taking of prisoners is strictly forbidden. And if you chose to ignore the right to know of the people in the localities where you are situated and in the areas you purport to serve, you have no business doing business here.
You can take the employment you generate and the taxes you pay with you because you have no right to even mention yourselves in the same breath as the journalists who daily place their lives on the line so the people would know the truth about the corrupt people in government and media who claim to serve the public, but serve themselves and their vested interests first.
I N D N J C -
comments to mike_banos@walla.com
I N D N J C -
These two stations lack of enthusiasm in this issue is significant, not only because they belong to national networks which have the capability to carry news to all corners of the archipelago, but even more because of why they did not carry this latest assault on press freedom which has constantly been under siege not only on the national scene, but even more so in localities where political kingpins seek to silence journalists reporting on corruption by the simple expediency of killing them.
One of these two media outlets claims to be the leading source of news in the region but its reportage of key events and personalities who have significantly contributed to its local/regional sales has been perfunctory, if at all. Another is a competitor of the affected network not only on the local, but the national scene as well. In short, the essence of their reluctance to cover the Valencia event is purely commercial.
Of course, one can always sympathize with the station managers whose bosses in their regional and national headquarters have made the retention of these ?political? accounts a top priority, especially in the light of the increasingly competitive media industry. But lest they and their bosses forget, it is this very press freedom, now under siege in Valencia and other places around the country, which makes it possible for them to do business.
Allow me to cite the following portion of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club?s Code of Ethics which specifically addresses this dilemma:
Personal Interest and Influence : We shall not accept any consideration, gift or advantage offered to us for the purpose of influence. In like manner, we shall disclose conflicts of interest that affect, or could be seen to affect, the accuracy, fairness or independence of our work.
Conflict of Interest : the station (or station manager?s) survival versus the people?s right to know. When one comes in conflict with the other, why does it always have to be the public whom the media has sworn to defend as Democracy?s Fourth Estate who will be sacrificed in the Altar of Survival on the flimsy excuse that lack of or shallow news reportage is better than no reportage at all in case the station (or the station manager) is shutdown or removed by its national headquarters for failure to deliver on corporate sales targets?
It is incumbent upon us as fellow journalists to call the attention of these two stations that in the fight for the defense of press freedom, there?s no such thing as a neutral side. You?re either with us or against us, and the taking of prisoners is strictly forbidden. And if you chose to ignore the right to know of the people in the localities where you are situated and in the areas you purport to serve, you have no business doing business here.
You can take the employment you generate and the taxes you pay with you because you have no right to even mention yourselves in the same breath as the journalists who daily place their lives on the line so the people would know the truth about the corrupt people in government and media who claim to serve the public, but serve themselves and their vested interests first.
I N D N J C -
comments to mike_banos@walla.com
I N D N J C -
Print
Email
