PAGBABAGO
Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid
Much had been written about the impact of media on almost every aspect of our life - imparting knowledge about the world we live in, facilitating the development of society, enabling our people and communities to cope with crisis. Thus, when we are denied access to news and information, we feel that we are deprived of a basic right. We have safeguarded these rights to information that promotes positive values and ensures protection of our freedoms, as well as capability to fight disinformation.
In the recently released Digital News Report 2022, Yvonne Chua, associate professor of journalism at the University of the Philippines, shared her summary of findings on the Philippine component and the Philippine profile that she had written.
Like in the 2021 report, the most significant finding in 2022 is the relatively high trust in news, but that more people have expressed lesser interest in it. GMA Network has the highest trust score with Manila Bulletin coming in second, followed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer and DZBB. They believe the news should be independent from business and political interests so that it can better serve the needs of society. Facebook and the social media are the most used platforms. Most prefer local news and give attention not only to brands but specific commentators and journalists
The lessened interest in the news is shown by the decrease of 10 points across all age groups. It is lowest among the “social natives” (43 percent) or Filipinos age 18-24 who grew up with the social, participatory web. Interest among “digital natives” or those age 25-34 is also below average. In general, there is greater interest in the local news, followed by news about the coronavirus, climate change and the environment, and politics.
GMA Network continues to enjoy the highest trust (70 percent) score among the 15 brands followed again by Manila Bulletin (66 percent). The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Super Bowl Radio DZBB (both 65 percent) have climbed to 3rd spot with Philippine Star (64 percent), Sun Star, a network of community newspapers at 55 percent, ABS-CBN and TV5, 52 percent, Abante, 47 percent, and Rappler, 46 percent.
DNR tracked news avoidance shown through rationing or limiting exposure to news. The figure in this category is higher for the Philippines. News avoiders say they are put off by “by too much news especially on politics and Covid-19.” A third of the respondents questioned the independence of news organizations from undue political and business interests. More Filipinos say that most news organizations put commercial interests and political interests ahead of what is best for society. These days, 73 percent of Filipinos turn to social media for news, their consumption being the fifth highest among the 46 markets surveyed. TV news viewing still commands a sizable 60 percent of adult Filipinos.
When looking for news online, the survey found Filipinos paying most attention to not only specific brands but also specific journalists or commentators.
Facebook remains the most widely used platform for news. Almost three quarters (73 percent) of Filipinos rely on it for news.
Tiktok has emerged as a significant new player used by 20 percent.
For the past years, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism had conducted surveys of perceptions of consumers from all over the world. The 2022 Digital News Report which was recently released reflects the response of 93.432 people from 46 media markets in six continents polled online between Jan. 18 and Feb. 2 this year. A total of 2021 Filipinos were part of the sample group.
Undoubtedly, the survey provides a useful guide for policy makers, media executives and development planners. But because a large population of indigenous communities in developing countries is still dependent on traditional community media (radio, community newspapers, audiovisual media, townhall meetings), perhaps future surveys could include these concerns and how they are used in family or community settings.
The desire for greater independence from business and political interests augurs well for the development of alternative media, media cooperatives and media where people organizations actively participate.
An even more critical concern is based on a finding that was not totally unexpected – that most people prefer local news. While this is a positive trend as it helps provide a better understanding of the environment, it is likewise important to keep people better informed of global developments.
A Filipino business consultant who had worked overseas suggests we need to be more competitive as we examine barriers that had hampered our productivity and becoming outward looking.
Romeo Encarnacion who writes a blog, notes that our culture of impunity and our hierarchical, parochial, and paternalistic mindsets had hindered our capacity to make the right turn at the fork. We have heard this before. But perhaps we have to give this concern a greater push by examining our social, political and media environment.
Our media managers and journalists can address this problem through media reports on governance models and documenting how Vietnam, Ukraine, Bulgaria, South Korea did it! Among others, it is by being forward-looking, outcome-oriented, determined, and having that “will to develop.” Add a dose of audacity too to this formula.
My email, florangel.braid@gmail.com