By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
The problem with the current debate on the Comelec regulation on right of reply is that the election body doesn’t seem to recognize these basic facts:
>> Media is not opposed to right of reply; it only opposes forced right of reply; Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
The foreigner—whose shooting rampage at the MBF Palace of Justice last Jan. 22 killed a doctor and his lawyer and wounded severely a woman prosecutor, before he shot himself in the head—said he had “unfinished business” with media.
It was obviously not coincidental that John Pope, 66, a foreigner with an expired permit to stay, dated his complaint against a Cebu newspaper the same day he went on the murderous binge. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Government media of Cebu Province and Cebu City broke into the news last week when their budgets were reviewed by legislators.
Unlike private media, government newspapers and broadcast stations are funded with public money. But scrutiny is hardly done if executive and legislative officials sit on the same political fence. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
On Oct. 2, 2007, Sen. Joker Arroyo filed a resolution for the inquiry into a news leak that reported he blocked disclosures by then socioeconomic plannng secretary Romulo Neri in a Senate executive session.
The senator asked that those present at the meeting and “Philippine Daily Inquirer” be investigated for breach of secrecy of the Sept. 26, 2007 closed-door proceeding. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
• Related earlier columns: “Is media afraid of right of reply?” (June 30, 2012) “Why oppose the right of reply when it’s already in the election law?” (Aug. 11, 2012)
It wasn’t President Noynoy Aquino’s blast about media’s “allergy to good news” that drew fire after his speech before the 38th top-level conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) last Nov. 15 in Tagaytay City.
After all, he has been hacking at negative reporting and commentary every chance he gets with a media audience. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz C. Radaza called it history in the making. Last Nov. 10, she launched Mactan Post, a local-government-run “newsroom,” the first in Cebu and probably the rest of the country.
Many LGUs have newsletters, newspapers or magazines and broadcast stations. Mactan Post opens an un-trod trail, using digital media to promote the city’s programs. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama fumed over the rumor on radio that while his political nemesis Rep. Tomas Osmeña has bladder cancer, the mayor also has prostate cancer.
Nonsense, Rama in effect said, he could outrun Osmeña in a race and outplay him in a basketball one-on-one. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Two recent news stories provided examples of how media could set off the event. They were about:
– An election officer, Marchel Sarno, having lunch with a colorful candidate, boxing promoter Wakee Salud; Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
Rene Saguisag, a former senator who writes a column for the “Manila Times,” thinks the outpouring of opposition to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is over-reaction, a response not proportionate to the threat.
He disagrees with some opposers to the bill comparing Republic Act 10175 to martial law. A victim who battled on the streets against the Marcos-Enrile military regime, Saguisag said they didn’t know how it was. Read the rest of this entry »
By Pachico A. Seares
Public & Standards Editor
Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Superbalita [Cebu]
[Related articles: Will limits on media work on internet libel?, July 21, 2012; Why public officials shouldn’t sue for libel, Aug. 18, 2012; Why public officials sue for libel, May 12, 2012]
Journalists find it ironic coincidence that President Aquino signed the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 last Sept. 12, less than 10 days before the 40th anniversary of martial law. Read the rest of this entry »