A number of journalists and journalism professors have decried some congressmen’s conduct at the last hearing for the ABS-CBN franchise renewal.
During the Mondays, July 6 hearing, several congressmen bared their personal gripes against the network and slammed ABS-CBN on the manner of their reporting which according to them has portrayed them in a bad light.
And another staunch critic Rep. Rodante Marcoleta also questioned ABS-CBN for reporting only crimes and other bad news.
However, journalists and journalism professors blasted these congressmen for pretending to be experts on journalism ethics and standards.
Seasoned journalist and journalism professor Luis Teodoro said people should note that those congressmen opposing the ABS-CBN franchise have no basic knowledge and understanding of ethical and professional standards of journalism yet they are dictating to ABS-CBN how to cover the news.
Everyone please note that the congressmen opposed to the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN are no experts on the professional and ethical standards of journalism.
— Luis V. Teodoro (@luisteodoro) July 6, 2020
Media criticism is a special field in communication studies. And yet some congressmen without the most basic understanding of the ethical and professional standards of the news media pretend to be experts on how best the media should cover events and issues
— Luis V. Teodoro (@luisteodoro) July 6, 2020
UP journalism professor Danny Arao also echoed Teodoro’s view saying most of these congressmen who will decide on the fate of a broadcast network knew nothing about journalism and its main function.
FOR THE RECORD: Regardless of the fate of ABS-CBN, Remulla will go down in history as the enemy of press freedom.
— Danilo Arao (@dannyarao) July 6, 2020
TO RENEW OR NOT TO RENEW: ABS-CBN's fate will be decided by majority of legislators who know nothing about the journalism (theoretical, empirical and normative dimensions) but know a lot about tyranny (hysterical, illogical and ungrammatical connections).
— Danilo Arao (@dannyarao) July 6, 2020
Julius Babao, Jeck Batallones, Kaladkaren, and Karen Davila, on the other hand, said it is not a journalist’s job to clean up politicians’ images.
Gusto ko lang linawin sa mga kabataan na ang mga journalist ay hindi PR practioners. Trabaho naming maging patas sa pagbabalita pero hindi namin obligasyong magpaligaya ng taong ibinabalita namin.
— julius babao (@juLiusbabao) July 6, 2020
Mga sir, kung ayaw nyo ma offend nandyan po ang PTV4. Dun kayo ang BIDA. 👌
— jeck batallones (@jeck_batallones) July 6, 2020
Ay bakit parang naging tungkol sa kanila??? Para po ito sa bayan at sa libo-libong empleyado ng network. Hindi po ito tungkol sa kung na-offend kayo or whatsoever!
— KaladKaren (@jervijervi) July 6, 2020
It’s not a journalist’s job to make politicians happy. https://t.co/0rmTOTnk12
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) July 7, 2020
Gigi Grande, meanwhile, slammed Kabayan partylist Rep. Ron Salo for saying his heart grieves with the employees while joining those opposed to the network franchise.
As an employee, let me say this: I don’t want your grief because you have contributed to our suffering. https://t.co/Wyy69f0UXp
— Gigi Grande (@Gigi_Grande) July 6, 2020
ABS-CBN news producer Nick Villavecer also said it’s laughable that these congressmen dictating how ABS-CBN should cover the news are all non-journalists.
A non-journalist is lecturing a journalist, a head of the largest news organization at that, how to do her job? This is laughable.
— Nick Villavecer (@nickvillavecer) July 6, 2020
Meanwhile, Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato said that Congress’s primary duty in hearing franchise applications should be on the grounds of its procedural compliance to the law and constitution. It is not with the congressional franchise committee to hear and discuss grievances against the network’s perceived bias or its contents because according to her it will be tantamount to a prior constraint.
She also added that the constitution gives weight on the right to a free press and denying ABS-CBN franchise because of its content or how it handles its programming will be subject to curtailing of its press freedom. She said if there are complaints against the network’s handling of coverage or other violations of the law, let the court decide on it and not congress.
Yes! Finally! Rep. Sato gets it. Franchise hearings should not delve into content. It should be content-neutral regulation. If you have complaints, go to court she says, not use franchise hearing as this amounts to prior restraint. pic.twitter.com/Q8bbVxE5HP
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) July 6, 2020
Here are other sentiments from journalists about congressmen’s personal gripes against ABS-CBN.
Sharing as a final word the lines from one of my most favorite ABS-CBN News plugs, from the mid-2000s:
"May kinikilingan–ang katotohanan.
May pinoprotektahan–ang kapakanan ng taong-bayan.
Panig sa katotohanan, panig sa bayan."— Anjo Bagaoisan (@anjo_bagaoisan) July 6, 2020
To our congressmen : Whatever you decide on the fate of ABS-CBN will be written in our history. There is no turning back. Before you cast your vote on thursday. Thank the Lord & Say a prayer. Then ask yourself, “ Am I doing this for the good of my country or for myself? “
— julius babao (@juLiusbabao) July 7, 2020
A 10-hour hearing about settling personal scores with a news organization
— Christian Esguerra (@IanEsguerra) July 6, 2020
ABS-CBN is getting picked apart for its reporting and I honestly feel like someone is tearing into my insides without an aneasthesia. ABS-CBN's mistakes are my mistakes. Its flaws are my flaws. We stand with you Kapamilya. Kapit.
— Lian Buan (@lianbuan) July 6, 2020
Hindi trabaho ng journalist na alagaan ang feelings at ego ng mga nasa kapangyarihan.
— Bea Cupin (@beacupin) July 6, 2020
Kasi po Cong Garin, nainterview po kayo sa DZMM at yun po ang ginamit sa TV Patrol. Hindi po ito inimbento ng reporter maam. #ABSCBNFranchiseHearing https://t.co/9CiZZFgaRh
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) July 6, 2020
Problema talaga itong sistema na yun broadcast media is supposed to be the citizenry’s eye against abusive officials but it’s these officials who are the ones who have the power to grant or revoke broadcast licenses. Nagiging personal.
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) July 6, 2020
Bakit kaya may mga taong walang GMRC? Tinuturo naman ito sa school ah. 🤔
— Bianca Dava-Lee 🐱 (@biancadava) July 6, 2020
It is part of the media’s role to be the government’s watchdog. Journalism is not PR. Just saying. 🤷🏻♀️
— Bianca Dava-Lee 🐱 (@biancadava) July 6, 2020
Oh pati comments section, kasalanan ng ABSCBN? 😅
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) July 6, 2020
ABS-CBN shutdown is not about facts and the law. Duterte and his minions in Congress don't care about facts and the law.
Agencies have cleared the network; other expired franchises are allowed to operate. But the regime doesn't care.
— Tonyo Cruz (@tonyocruz) July 6, 2020
