By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Resolution #9615, as amended, that implemented the Fair Election Act for the 2013 elections, enjoined media:
(1) “to scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts or distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis”:
(2) “to correct substantive errors promptly”; and Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
The Fair Election Act banned publication of election survey results 15 days and seven days before national and local elections to avoid “trending” and the so-called bandwagon effect. Authors of Republic Act 9006 imposed the ban under its section 5.4.
The Supreme Court, however, struck down the provision as unconstitutional, saying it would violate press freedom. The SC ruled on May 5, 2001, just nine days before election day in that year. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Case 1: From London or whereever Ian Charles Griffiths is, Bella Ruby Santos’s lover and co-accused in the killing of grader Ella Joy Pique issued on April 19 a press statement criticizing the media for calling him “at large” when, he said, he’s not.
Case 2. At the Supreme Court, Theodore Te, head of its public information office, on April 18 apologized for calling the order against Comelec that restores the old airtime limit as “status quo ante order (SQAO)” instead of “temporary restraining order” (TRO). Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
“Section 10. All members of the news media, television, radio, print or online, shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts or distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. They shall recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct errors promptly without prejudice to the right of said broadcast entities to air accounts of significant news or newsworthy events and views on matters of public interest.”
–Comelec Resolution #9615, implementing Republic Act #9006 or Fair Election Act
Two things first:
[1] The provision on “fair and accurate reporting” restates a basic principle of the press, included in any news outlet’s set of standards and enforced in most newsrooms, election time or not; Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Two complaints on practices of some journalists were aired during the week: one, publicly by Msgr. Achilles Dakay, media liaison officer of the Cebu Archdiocese, and the other, privately in a politician’s conversation with media persons.
“Mons” Dakay griped that broadcasters who interviewed him didn’t raise the questions they weren’t clarified about and yet once he was off the air, they pounced on what he said. “Why didn’t they ask me when I was still with them?” Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
It’s now known that Pope Francis shunned staying at the archbishop’s palace for a modest apartment, a chauffeur-driven car for a bus or subway, and press-cons for an uncomplicated life without media.
He may have to revise attitudes and habits. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Kill the thought that the Comelec procedure for election candidates to complain against violation of right of reply (RoR) will unleash a flood of complaints from them–not likely.
The procedure, laid down by Resolution #9615 as amended by Resolution #9631, is tedious and doesn’t promise quick relief. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Among the questions, issues, and case studies the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) is compiling for its forum on election coverage (Thursday, March 7, 2013, MBF Cebu Press Center) is that raised by Mildred Galarpe, a Sun.Star Online editor: Why does it take long for Comelec to determine if a violent or controversial incident is election-related?
The press wants immediate answers. Even if it knows an incident still has to be investigated, reporters have deadlines to meet and, with more media platforms, more news cycles to chase. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
This story goes around every election season but it hasn’t been discussed in public forums about media coverage: Philippine broadcast networks, or some of them, prohibit their announcers, anchorpersons, and reporters to talk on air about any politician or political party during the campaign period.
Specifics of the ban must interest us outsiders. Does that mean during a fixed period there’s no news story or commentary at all about any politician or political party? Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Columns are different from news. In most newspapers, there are separate labels for one and the other. The purpose is not to mislead readers and to enable them to make an informed judgment, knowing what is news and what is opinion.
While there are cases, especially in broadcast, when a radio commentator gives the news and at the same time comments on it, segregating opinion from news is still one tested hallmark of good journalism. Read the rest of this entry »