Bulacan Newspaper: How the publication deals with modernization? Salary?

• Attitude and adaptation of community paper towards the salary and changes due to technology

  
  

  Putting-up a newspaper in a community faces some troubles before reaching the success in the business. Financial was one of the difficulty that every, if not most, publisher faces as they aimed to serve the public, relay news in events happening in a locality.

  
  

  Like Maria ‘Ka Nene’ Bundoc-Ocampo, Editor-in-chief (EIC) and Publisher of Punla (Pulso ng Madla), experienced when she was putting-up her local newspaper. She remembers how her family helps her to build-up a newspaper and her mother selling the paper to their baranggay.

  
  

  Starting for several pages and small budget for circulation, makes her passion in writing useful and serve the public, through supplying their hunger for information.

  
  

  Journalism attitude towards Salary

  “Of course, most business do. I’m still buried to death from the loan mortgage of my lot property I inherited from my parents which I used as the capital in this paper,” NewsCore EIC and Publisher Carmela Reyes-Estrope said, as she stated how she build-up and financial problem took place on her publication.

  
  

  Also according to her, as he expound her statement, the weekly printing cost, layout artist fee, honoraria of columnists  reach the amount of minimum of 7000php to 8000php, which also includes other incidental and operational expenses.

  
  

  With this, as the budget can’t sustain the expenses of the publication the salary of the reporter can be affected, possibly.

  
  

  “Ang sweldo kasi sa ganyan (community newspaper) ay ayon sa naisusulat mo, baka sumulat ka lang ng kapiraso at wala pang kadating-dating, paano ka papaswelduhin?” Ato Gabe of Luzon Times, a community newspaper, said.

  
  

  Also according to him, the salary between national newspaper is different form how much earnings that reporter of local newspaper gain. He also said that regular earning in journalism profession is very seldom, because most of the newspaper salary depends on how many news story you published.

  
  

  Meanwhile, Bundoc-Ocampo said that she gave her reporter, even contributor, an honorarium because she still can’t give fixed salary. She also mention how the honorarium circulates in her publication, she gave 200php for banner story, 150php for front and back page story, inside page stories amounts 100php and 75php for every press releases.

  
  

  “I pay article contribution 200php – 300php to 500php the most. For my columnist, it’s 500php per week,”  said Estrope.

  
  

  Unfortunately, because of this reality of not having a good and regular salary that can feed their everyday expenses, some journalist do unethical acts, like orbit, act of collecting money to the sources, politicians.

  
  

  “ ‘Yung mga hindi talaga regular na naglalabas ng dyaryo (ang kilala kong hindi nagpapasuweldo), na ang tawag ay fly by night,” Gabe said.

  Also, he said that he don’t know if there is newspaper publication who do orbits in the province, but he never that only fly by night type of newspaper exist here.

  
  

  “Kulang kasi ang kita nila (orbit reporter), kailangan kasi nila mayroon sila maipublish na (may) magbabayad, para kumita. Hindi kamukha nitong mga nandito (nasa Bulacan Press Club) na mayroon (pinagkukunan) weekly,” Gabe said.

  
  

  Local journalist collects money from the sources because they don’t have enough money to pay all their daily expenses.

  
  

  Sometimes, this orbit system was from the mind of the publisher and EIC of each publication. This is because of the fact that they can’t give enough salary to their reporter, so that, they suggest or advise their reporter to do orbit, for the earn money.

  
  

  “Akala nila gano’n (orbit rm to eporter) ang peryodismo, puro paninikil. Hindi dapat nag-eexist sa peryodismo ang mga orbit reporters,” Punla EIC and Publisher said.

  
  

  On the other hand, Ato Gabe cleared that there are several source of fund, where did the publication can earn more money for the organization to pay good salary for their reporter, aside from the sale and bulk order of the newspaper.

  
  

  “May legal notice o kaya naman nagpapapublish ng mga PR (Press Release) and advertisement,” he said.

  
  

  Aside from the problem in the salary, ability of the reporter was mentioned some local journalist.

  
  

  “(From 1 to 10) 10 ang level of competency ng reporters ko, pero kapag may mali sa ginawa nila, nilelecturan ko sila para matuto sila sa susunod, ipinaliliwanag ko talag sa kanila na ganito yan, ganire yan,” Bundoc-Ocampo said.

  
  

  On the other hand, Gabe of Luzon Times said that the reporter who doesn’t receive enough salary and rounds on the government offices in the province to solicit money from the officers are the one who unable to write a good story.

  
  

  Journalism in Modern Technology Years

  Today, newspapers are adopting the changes caused by the modern technology. Changes from the ways of making the layout of the paper up to the new way of disseminating of news, were adopted by the newspaper publication.

  
  

  Most of the publication now used to have their layout using publisher software of the computer, but some are using the newer and in trend software called page maker.

  
  

  “Kami (ang ginagamit namin na panglayout) publisher, pero dati page maker,” Ka Nene of Punla said, “(noong nasa star kasi ako) publisher ang gamit namin kaya gamay ko,” she added.

  
  

  And when it comes to the adaptation of new media, local publications are stepping little by little.

  
  

  “Website meron kami, wala nga lang pambayad kaya hindi na natuloy. Nakaplano na yung e-Punla, yung website…” she added.

  
  

  Aside from Punla, Luzon Times also had their own version of newspaper in social media, who manipulated by the owner of the publication.

  
  

  Posted/ Published at Facebook, as a requirement in Special Problems in Journalism

  Posted/Published last July 19, 2012.

Review on News for Sale

The Book

News for Sale 2010: Cash Overload, Media Overdrive, compiled book by Philippine Center for Investigative Journalist, tackles about how media covers the candidates for national and local government. Also, discuss about the how media practitioner deals with envelops, which candidate offers to them.

Before the 2010 Election, politics was very simple. Campaign then, was not that glamorous like the 2010 Election, which there are several celebrities endorses their bets and online media exists – For the candidate to be more known, and showbiz personalities influence the people to vote for whom.

But, in the history of politics, media corruption is always present. Having a barter between the politician and media practitioner, trade of money or gifts for a story with a whole lot of twist. This trade between the source and media may result to influence the write-ups of the news men.

May 10, 2010: Pera-Pera lang ‘yan!

This election, 2010, was a lot differ from the previous polling, from the system of voting and how candidate competes with each other had a lot of difference. This automated election tested the ability of media in delivering news quicker than before.

Covering this type of reporting requires a lot of skills and money, for the expenditures of the media organization while conducting coverage to supply news to the public.

“We can’t even raise the salaries of reporters or provide them enough allowance for out-of-town coverage,” said one senior newspaper executive. While, Lynette Ordonez-Luna, editor of Inquirer.net said, “We could have had more people and equipment for an improved coverage of the elections. All of that can only be possible if we had a budget for it,”

Without the money, funds, improvement in coverage of media organization was affected. Media outlet may depend on the politicians allowance for coverage, which may affect or twist the content of the news in exchange to the goodness of the candidate.

On the other hand, television networks did some program to educate the Filipino on what to do in the upcoming automated election. This  program are ‘Eleksyon 2010’ with a ‘Leksyon sa Eleksyon’ and MTV ‘Bilog na hugis Itlog’ of GMA 7 and ‘Ako ang Simula’ and  ‘Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo’ of ABS-CBN.

“Globally, it’s really citizen journalism and professionalism combining,”  Maria Ressa of ABS-CBN said about the ‘Ako ang Simula’, “So, our goal was how to grow citizen journalism so that it becomes a force in the election,”

And because of the success and popularity of ABS-CBN’s ‘Ako ang Simula’, GMA 7 and TV 5 build their own version of citizen journalism program, ‘YouScoop’ and ‘JournalisMo’, respectively.

In addition, GMA 7 showcase election special program such as ‘Kandidato’ and ‘Isang Tanong’, which features the candidates to present their platforms and stands to the current issues; ‘Biyaheng Totoo’ and ‘Votebook’, an election-related mini-documentary.

This program were established because, GMA 7 believes that through this shows, all candidates of are given a chance to speak-out their voice.

And to avoid biasness, ABS-CBN made Kris Aquino, sister of Noynoy Aquino, and Korina Sanchez, the senior news anchor, who recently married to Manuel ‘Mar’ Roxas, rest during the campaign period.

Newspaper also had their own version of citizen journalism; they allot pages for the writer-wannabes. Star made ‘Inbox’, in which email and text messages from readers are posted while, PDI have ‘Youngblood’ and ‘Highblood’, a feature essays written by youths and senior citizen, respectively.

Also, Star conducted a getting-to-know-you session with the presidential candidates, resulting a write-up that aims to know the candidate more.

“Everybody was given a chance, except Jambi Madrigal, who did not come,” Marichu Villanueva, Star Associate Editor, said.

Meanwhile, as Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility review the flagship of the two big TV network in the Philippine, they showed that ABS-CBN covers a lot of Villar while GMA 7 aired more of Aquino, Estrada, Teodoro then, Villar.

Exposing more news about some particular candidates, the biasness is not only exist in the media practitioner who made the news but, also to the gatekeepers or front-liner of the media organization. This is because they are the one who choose which news to air or publish and which is not but, sometimes the choice is with the owner of the company or editorial policy.

“Our rules are simple: If the story is newsworthy, it goes on air. The call always belongs to the people who cover and air the news, not (to) the people who fund or advertise in it,” GMA 7 said.

Additionally, Howie Severino of GMA 7 said about their policy, “We refused offers of money and policed our ranks. We constantly reminded the staff about our rules and the consequences of breaking them,”

“We always paid our own way and never relied on political parties or candidates, even if they offered to foot the bill. We believe that to be able to live up to tenets of ‘serbisyong totoo’, which is ‘walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan’, to be truly objective, we could not be beholden to any individual or entity,” GMA 7 said.

Some of the reporter, respondent on the study of PCIJ, revealed that they were offered some gives like branded flipflops, pasalubong, travel bags and money, called as reimbursement allowance that ranged from 500- 3000 php. Envelops were sometimes attached with the Press Release that they handed after or during the coverage and mostly, handed through personally – Face-to-face.

Whenever a media practitioner receives money, even gifts, from the source or candidate, the news story that you were writing is influenced and twisted.

For instance, a media practitioner received 3000php from a gubernatorial candidate and hears the candidate said some negative things on his opponent then, the media practitioner will no longer write about the bad attitude that the candidate showed during the press conference but, he will report only about the platforms and plans of this governor wannabe. And through this, the position runner already buys the media men favors.

And sometimes, the gatekeeper and editor are the one who push them to that thing, to be bias.

“Para lumabas ang story, dapat kunin and pahayag ng partikular na kandidato at hindi masyadong halatang banat sa pinapaburan ng publisher,” one of the respondent said.

Not only that, there are also some media company that are controlled and funded by the government. This are the NBN Channel 4, Philippine Broadcasting Service, RPN 9, IBC 13, Times journal, and its sister tabloids People’s Journal and People’s Tonight, who receives budget subsidy from Malacanang.

Corruption not only exists in Metro Manila, but also to the province, where media are more prone to be exposed in corruption.

In fact, there are some media organization, which only publish or airs during election because, this business is best during this time.

And the reason that was seen why did community media commits corruption because, through this they can gain more money.

Community media are not just a reporter, most of the time they’re also do sale man of their newspaper.

Freddie Solinap said, “Pag hindi ka magdikarte ng ganun (to sell space), wala kang income. We do that, we make contracts where there’s festival, we’d really give a proposal to the mayor to feature that town. Sometimes, they will buy the newspaper edition, for example, they will buy 10,000 copies to distribute to the communityor their constituents, depending on the headline,”

Through those strategies, the community paper raised some income that can support their following issues.

Sometimes, it comes to the point that one community media was shocked because one of the new elected officer offered him money after the interview, the officer called it as ‘gas allowance’. It felt so insulted in the journalist pat because, he don’t got their for that envelop but for the information that is needed, for the media practitioner to disseminate to the people.

“Balita lang ang kinukuha namin,” Solinap said, “If they give something, well, it is normal, you woyld be a hypocrite to refuse. You accept, but it does not mean that just because he gave you money, you will agree to what he says,”

“It is a matter of survival for journalists who are in outlets that don’t pays them enough,” says Romy Elusfa, Mindanao freelance journalist.

Government is the one who made the media corrupt, as they also corrupt from the funds of the public. Without their offers, money and gifts, journalist would not received any from them, the sources. Maybe, journalist can received those money and gifts but, you’ll give it to a charity, like what other respondent of the study said.

Whether a media practitioner receives money or gift from the sources, he must write for the truth because, media serves for the public, who had a right to know the truth.

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

Posted/ Published last July 16, 2012.

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. 

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

Posted last July 08, 2012.