Why do some of the mediamen in the Philippines are receiving PR money from politicians? The answer is simple. Many of them do not get reasonable salaries, compared to those working in the foreign press. In fact, the practice of working for some politicians has been going on for many decades already, even before some of them have been busted for corruption. In fact, the Journalism Code of Ethics is just a blueprint of what the active journalists must do and must not do in the practice of their profession.
First, let us take a look at how the media profession is being practiced in the Philippines. Of course, everybody wanted to become a journalist and all they must do is to join any legitimate news organization (print or broadcast or online publications). Those who feel that they could not be accommodated in this level are forced to put up their own publications for the sole purpose of gathering and reporting news for public interests. But is that what they are after? Putting up a legitimate newspaper is easy. All you have to do is register the business name or the name of the publication with the Department of Trade and Industry for sole proprietorship, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, for partnerships and corporations. Of course, you can have it accredited by the Publishers Association of the Philippines or the Philippines Press Institute, too, to make the publication more credible.
While the intention of putting up the newspaper is honest, there are other reasons why it must survive. And to continue its circulation means a fortune of investment. What other publishers simply do is to solicit advertisements and sponsorships from generous clients, while others distribute it in the market for mass circulation. And some are given free to the public, especially the weekly newspaper publications outside Metro Manila. Once put on stream, the community newspapers, unlike the leading dailies, must survive the stiff competition. Otherwise, it will just die a natural death. But not until, the flight-by-night newspaper has been used for personal interests of certain politicians.
But what is so shameful about this practice is that some journalists working in the leading dailies have been vulnerable to corruption. Some of them are on the take or included in the payroll of some private and government agencies. There is no doubt that in some government agencies, there are cartels. This means that news are filtered or are schedule for release on certain so and so date at the command of the PR officer in-charge of the press people. Nbody seemed to be interested in investigating these cartels inside government offices for reasons nobody knows. New reporters assigned to the beats where this cartel practice is common, would get a surprise of his life. That means, you cannot get around yourself interviewing officials inside the premises without the permission of the president of the press corps. And residency is a must in these government agencies. At least, three months is enough before you can be given a press corps card.
Perhaps, the Philippine Press Institute may take a look at this problem.
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