Media Corruption

Corruption in Media

Rommel Ramos, a stringer of GMA- 7 and owner of a local radio station in Bulacan, can’t remember how he refused in his ‘kumpadres’ offer, to protect him from illegal videogame; video karera, a long time ago.

Asking him how much he needs then, telling his kumpadre that he cannot do anything nor help him, because he is not working for his interest but, for the public, who needs the truth, and only the truth, in a news facts that every media practitioner lends to them.

Corruption in the Philippines does not only exist in the officials and sectors of the government, but also in the line of journalism, the fourth state. 

It is undeniable that media practitioner does corruption while their in the work. But, issue goes with the damage to the profession it causes.

Author of this report interviewed Bulakenyo journalist, who had a knowledge and witness corruption in media, to know how does this matter exists in the province and its status.

Corruption knowledge and dealing with it

“Na-experience ko ‘yung corruption sa media but, I’m on the other side. Kumbaga, ako ‘yung nasa likod nung corruption, noong nagtatrabaho ako as PR  officer sa isang PR office,” Romulo Maturingan, who currently working as junior news desk at GMA 7, said.

In fact, he also stated in an interview that, during the time as he is working as a PR officer, he encountered several media practitioner, who’s looking to him just to get the envelops, whenever they set a press conference.

“Nung hindi nila alam na may envelop, wala silang pakialam [on Press Release], pero nung nalaman nilang may pakialam na sila sa press Release,” he added.

Additionally, Rommel Ramos, streamer of GMA 7 and owner of Radyo Bulacan 90.3, a local radio station in the province, said that media corruption is a broad topic to talked to. But, he said that this corruption occurs because of the small and minimize value of salary in media industry, which mostly encountered by the small newspaper and radio station. 

“Payoffs, sa pagkakaalam ko, yan yung coverage with budget. Samantalang may payroll naman ang payola sa sugal, tumatanggap ng pera mula sa mga illegal na sugalan,” as he define some types of media corruption as he mention does.

On the other hand, Maria ‘Ka Nene’ Bundoc-Ocampo, the publisher and Editor in Chief of Punla (Pulso ng Madla), a local newspaper that circulates in Bulacan, shares how she deal with the media corruption.

“Tinitingnan kong mabuti if it is given in good will. Kung alam ko na panunuhol, hindi ko tatanggapin,” she said, “Pero sa pag-cocover, mayroon naman kasi nagbibigay talaga, tinatawag nilang transportation allowance,”

Also, according to her, corruption in media was not only involving money and give aways but, also cheating in publishing article. She also mentioned that when a newspaper copied an article without the permission of the writer, it is also a corruption, because it has the copyright.

“Kasi, may ilang newspaper na kumukuha ng istorya at aalisin lang ang by line at papalitan ng iba,”

Aside to that, she also mentioned that the media corruption starts with the generosity of Imelda Marcos, the wife of former President Ferdinand Marcos, during the Martial law period.

“Kasi kapag natuwa siya sa media, kahit na anong suot niya, halimbawa yung relo, huhubarin niya ‘yun at iaabot,” she said.

Ethics

Article 356 of Revised Penal Code entitled ‘Threatening to publish and offer to present such publication for compensation’ is known for journalism as extortion, in which a writer blackmailed a person for him to earn money, and an act of corruption.

“[yung act na] pag ‘di ka nagbigay [ng pera] ilalabas ko ‘to,” as Maturingan illustratate it.

Meanwhile, Ka Nene said that she knew a lot of corrupt media personality here in the province. Indeed, she encountered a journalist, who talked to her and want to used her newspaper to collect money from the government official.

“Marami [corrupt media personality] pero unethical na sabihin. Mayroon nga d’yan 20 pesos lang ang pinag-aagawan pa,” Ramos said, as he prove that he knew corrupt media practitioner, “Mayroon pa nga, pitong tao, naghati-hati sa 500,”

Aside to that, journalist also stated the factors why did journalist do this type of crime.

“Dahil sa pangangailangan at tempting din kasi e,” the junior desk officer.

Additionally, Ramos viewed that the journalist lifestyle is the most thing that contributes to professionals to do corruption.

For an  instance, if an individual earns 15, 000 pesos in a month, his lifestyle must limit up to that cost. And if an individual go beyond that, there is no source to find more money, and if he reached that point, they depend on those illegal things to gain and have extra money.

However, he emphasize that whenever an individual did this acts the journalism code of ethics is not affected but, it affects the identity and dignity of the one who did this.

Manila-based vs. Provincial-based journalistWorking for a newspaper is not an easy job, indeed, this job is the hardest because, journalist serves the public.

As the journalist-educator, Maturingan, compared how corruption works in Manila and provincial based journalist, he said that the media in Manila receives more money than provincial-based but, provincial journalist are more prone in corruption.

But, this several media men, viewed only one solution to solve this corruption problem and that is to be more professional and discipline in line to the work.

“Kasi kung [responsible] media ka, alam mo kung ano ang tama at mali at kung kailan nasasangkalan ‘yung trabaho mo,” Maturingan said.

Moreover, before they ended their interview, they left some pieces of advice to the next generation of media practitioner on how to avoid this corruption.

“Lead to the principle, kung ano ang dapat na role ng reporter. Kumbaga nandito ka to inform, to entertain and to educate, ganun nalang. Kaya namang gampanan ‘yun without considering ‘yung nasa paligid mo,” he said.

It is so obvious that every journalist had their own views with regards to corruption; one says that it’s a God’s gift; the other one says that it depends on upon individual conscience and the other two were believes that’s whenever you receive money, its corruption. 

---

Posted/Published at Facebook as a requirement in Special Problem of Journalism course.

Posted last July 08, 2012.