PAGBABAGO
The Digital News Report 2023, an annual survey by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, has just been released according to Yvonne T. Chua, professor at the University of the Philippines who authored the Philippine country study. As in the past, it presents a bleak picture of our local media under the present administration.
We thought that it would have improved since we are in a new administration. But still, the report shows that there has not been much change. Over the past year – from June 2022 to April 23, a total of 75 violations of press freedom had been reported. This includes the senseless killing of broadcast commentator Percival “Lapid” as well as “surprise visits” to homes of some journalists by policemen in plain clothes.
Of course, this was expected after such developments as the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and earlier, the breakdown of peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines in 2017. This was when former president Rodrigo Duterte issued an Executive Order which mandated an intensified approach in defeating the “communist terrorist groups” through the creation of the NTF-ELCAC or National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. Red-tagging and harassment was particularly aimed at human rights defenders, political activists, lawyers, and all those perceived to be affiliated with the progressive left. Including innocent leaders of indigenous peoples in several parts of the country who were killed or tortured.
Journalists from mainstream and alternative media organizations were not spared. The report also cites the use of “lawfare” or legal action against journalists had likewise increased
Expectedly, defenders from the Presidential Task Force on Media Security debunked the Reuters report and insisted that the government is addressing the problem.
The good news is that the major news outlets, specifically the broadcast media, continue to be popular and trustworthy with an overall trust rating of 38 percent in 2023 as compared to its 27 percent rating in 2020. The GMA network which has the “dominant audience share,” continues to have a high level of trust at 74 percent. It was followed by newspapers Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, and the Philippine Star, radio stations dzRH and dzBB and TV network – all at 68 percent. Some independent media outlets which are respected for their reporting were however distrusted by powerful politicians.
Online sites and media were perceived to be “the most popular sources” of news and TV and radio news “remain important to those who were not online. Among all social media platforms, TikTok has grown the fastest as it is now used by 21 percent of consumers compared to only two percent in 2020. ([email protected])