Via ABS CBN PNoy lectures media: Give space for good news By Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News Posted at 10/22/2014 7:50 PM | Updated as of 10/22/2014 MANILA - President Aquino again gave media a lecture, urging members of the press to not only focus on the negative but also give space for good news. Speaking at an annual forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Aquino said that times have changed and that journalists should not merely take an adversarial role toward the government like during the martial law years. Back then, media taking an adversarial role to government was a symbol of bravery, social responsibility. It was a badge of honor, and rightfully so. For the past generation, however, despite our country winning back democracy and regaining freedom of the press, I have noticed that some veteran journalists have maintained their jaundiced eyes towards government. This is an understandable effect of Martial Law: that some members of the media continue to believe that criticism is the be all and end all of principled journalism. I propose, however, that this attitude is no longer compatible with our times, he said. The situation has changed: We no longer live in a country where the media is muzzled, or where the government tries to impose its will on journalists. Aquino said that the administration has worked to address media killings, adding that the number of extralegal killings has decreased, from 168 in the span of 10 years during the previous administration to 42 during his time thus far. He requested media to report stories accurately. …But make no mistake: Our administration will not be content until this number reaches zero. As we continue our efforts to bring to justice all those who have resorted to violence or intimidation to skew or hide the truth, my only request is that the media fulfill its obligation of protecting the truth as well, he said. When reporting on different matters, it is my hope that you could perhaps exert more effort in defining the problem and describing the situation accurately: If there was a crime committed, for instance, then we must be clear about the facts, and the motivations of the culprit so that the problem is indeed solved, he said. Aquino said that media should find a healthy balance between the positive and the negative and also report on stories that give hope. Media is part and parcel of society, and it is incumbent upon you to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. These days, that also means accurately representing the national condition by striking a healthy balance between the positive and the negative, he said. Negativism has driven some members of our media for far too long, and it might one day convince our people that a disproportionate amount of national events are negative; that all is lost and it is foolish to hope. I encourage you to act on this, because just as it is your role to keep government in check, it is also your duty to keep a watchful eye on your ranks, in view of publishing the truest possible accounting of our national life. By all means, criticize; dialogue has, in many cases, helped accelerate our nations development. My only suggestion is for you to make room in your reports for hope. After all, it is also one of the tasks of media to inspire our countrymen with uplifting news, he said. He cited the example of journalist Teddy Benigno who joined government and served as press secretary during the time of President Cory Aquino. Aquino said that Benigno remained credible even when he returned to media. When he eventually left government and returned to media, his reputation was unaffected; if anything, it was enhanced. If I may add: He was able to distinguish between the different roles he has taken during his professional life, from his early work as a reporter, which requires scrupulous objectivity, to his later career as a columnist, where he was free to express his opinion. Indeed, to this day, Teddy Benigno continues to be a fine example to all journalists of how, as democracy evolves, media must evolve with it, he said. abs-cbnnews/nation/10/22/14/pnoy-lectures-media-give-space-good-news
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 07:42:10 +0000
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