press freedom

[OPINION] When the media censors itself

Edward Joseph Maguindayao

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

[OPINION] When the media censors itself
'Has the media fought back enough to regain its freedoms?'

Just recently, independent watchdog Freedom House released a report entitled “The Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Struggle for Freedom.” The report was based on a survey of countries across the globe, and placed the Philippines with 79 other countries whose “condition of democracy and human rights have deteriorated” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the report, our government has committed several abuses such as media restriction, restriction on protests, detention or arrest, and police violence, and it gave the Philippines a “partly free” status in the Freedom in the World 2020 ranking. Furthermore, the report highlighted that independent media in the country is under assault by the government. Interestingly, the survey also found that among the countries involved, respondents trusted information coming from the media more (56% trust, 42% distrust) than those that come from the national government (37% trust, 62% distrust).

In the recent forum “State of Journalism in the Philippines,” ABS-CBN News Chief Ging Reyes also lamented about the elephant in the room: “Our audience is over-entertained and underinformed.” It is a sad reality that can partly explain why media is in the state it is now.

When the National Telecommunications Commission handed down the order for ABS-CBN to shut down, it was a foregone conclusion but still sent chills down our spine. President Duterte’s repeated attacks on the network in the past were just warning signs for what would be a big blow to the largest media conglomerate in the country.

During the final hearing on ABS-CBN’s franchise bid, several lawmakers even questioned the way the news organization crafted its headlines and told stories. It was an apparent infringement on how journalism should be done. That day, press freedom was again found dead in the water.

Must Read

The repeated attacks on ABS-CBN, Inquirer, and Rappler – even on neutral stories – are telling. The attacks – whether organic or orchestrated – slowly pierce through the fabric of press freedom. Not to mention that media killings in far-flung provinces remain unreported or unresolved. Shiela Coronel of the Columbia Journalism School puts it aptly: “I think it’s the government that is afraid.”

But while all these narratives are retold and their points belabored, has the media fought back enough to regain its freedoms? Or will this all just remain a cautionary tale of how journalism in the Philippines slowly lost its relevance in the ocean of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation?

The answer lies not in grand narratives but in the everyday pursuit of truth across platforms.

I would like to believe that Filipinos are an intelligent audience. But when media itself restricts information because of biases and self-censorship, then it allows the falsehoods to propagate through the most accessible means (special mention to Facebook and YouTube). Fake videos from propagandists or those who simply want to gain traction abound, and the room for critical analysis has slowly shrunk.

There is an even greater challenge when officials resort to blaming the media for “misquoting” them when they draw ire for their statements. It is as if high-ranking members of government, who are authorized to speak on behalf of their agencies, test the waters, then throw media under the bus should their statements backfire on them. The media should fight back and aggressively seek and tell the truth. The Fourth Estate exists not only to relay news and information to the general public, but also to guard the rights of Filipinos and ensure a flourishing democracy – especially at a time when restrictions on movement are still imposed.

Must Read

MMDA’s Pialago under fire for ‘zero empathy’ toward activist Nasino, baby River

MMDA’s Pialago under fire for ‘zero empathy’ toward activist Nasino, baby River

As for us readers and viewers, our job is to keep the free market of ideas alive and keep media in check, too. We deserve a brand of journalism that keeps us informed while giving us room to discern and be critical of what we see, hear, and read. Anything less is censorship.

The worst kind of censorship, in fact, comes from within the media organization, which can be hard to detect by the already preoccupied populace. This self-censorship takes different forms, from softening stories to withholding opinion columns, and it takes a greater shape when news organizations actually frame their stories in such a way that those in power can gain the upper hand and leave the public to suffer. – Rappler.com

Edward Joseph H. Maguindayao is a graduate student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He watches, reads, and listens to the news everyday.

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!