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JOIN THE DISCUSSION! Are block
timers journalists, too – or do they help undermine Philippine journalism?
Should a line be drawn between the two? COMMENT NOW
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Journalists Abducted and Killed in Ampatuan, Maguindanao
23 November 2009
Ian Subang, Socsargen Today,
General Santos City
Lea Dalmacio, Socsargen News,
General Santos City
Gina De la Cruz, Saksi News,
General Santos City
Maritess Cablitas, News Focus,
General Santos City
Rosell Morales, News Focus,
General Santos City
Henry Araneta, DZRH,
General Santos City
Marife “Neneng" Montaño, Saksi News, General Santos City
Alejandro "Bong" Reblando, Manila Bulletin, General Santos City
Victor Nuñez, UNTV,
General Santos City
Mark Gilbert "Mac-Mac" Arriola, UNTV, General Santos City
Eugene Dohillo, UNTV,
General Santos City
Hannibal Cachuela, Punto News,
Koronadal City
Ernesto "Bart" Maravilla, Bombo Radyo, Koronadal City
Benjie Adolfo, Gold Star Daily,
Koronadal City
Rubello Bataluna, Gold Star Daily,
Koronadal City
Jhoy Duhay, Gold Star Daily,
Tacurong City
Ronie Perante, Gold Star Daily correspondent, Koronadal City
Joel Parcon, Prontiera News,
Koronadal City
Bienvenido Legarte Jr., Prontiera News, Koronadal City
Rey Merisco, Periodico Ini,
Koronadal City
John Caniban, Periodico Ini,
Koronadal City
Arturo Betia, Periodico Ini,
Koronadal City
Noel Decina, Periodico Ini,
Koronadal City
Fernando"Rani" Razon, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
Andres "Andy" Teodoro, Central Mindanao Inquirer, Tacurong City
Jimmy Cabilo, Midland Review,
Tacurong City
Reynaldo “Bebot" Momay, Midland Review, Tacurong City
Napoleon Salaysay, Mindanao Gazette, Cotabato City
Santos "Jun" Gatchalian, DXGO, Davao City
Lindo Lupogan, Mindanao Daily Gazette, Davao City
Jolito Evardo, UNTV, General Santos City
Jepon Cadagdagon,
Saksi News, General Santos City
(Source: Humanitarian and Fact-finding Mission of the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists)
Are broadcast block timers journalists, too?
Posted Wednesday, 04 June 2008
Block timing in radio and television continues to be a
debatable issue in the Philippine media industry. Highlight of the debate was
in 2006, when the Philippines was declared second most dangerous country for
journalists next to Iraq; most of those killed were radio block timers in the
provinces.
Some organizations believe that it is not an accepted and
legitimate part of professional journalism; block timers who usually get
sponsorships from politicians, corporations or other interest groups use air
time for biased commentaries and therefore tarnish journalism’s traditions of
objectivity and professionalism.
But to some, there is no need to divide the line. The fact
that block timers are also media practitioners is already a compelling reason
to include them in campaigns for press freedom, access to information, and
safety and security of journalists.
But perhaps block-timing is helping to give journalism in
the Philippines
a bad name and worsens the security situation for professional media.
And what about the radio stations that hire themselves out
in this way? Do they think audiences easily differentiate between what is real
news and objective reporting and what is paid reporting and politically-driven
opinion? Should any media allow itself to be used in this way?
Tell us what think. Should a line be drawn between
“professional” journalists and broadcast block-timers? If so, how?
If not, why not?
Very interesting topic, important discussion. Do you have any statistics, of how many block timers are from politicians, from corporations and from NGOs or POs, as a number of block timers are also from people's organizations. They give a different face to the block timers much less biased and less self-interest driven. And in the absence of broadcasting regulations that allow community radio those grassroots based organizations or NGOs that service grassroots have no choice than buy airtime as block timers to give grassroots a voice and provide them with useful information.
Are the comments for this discussion that where already submitted available online on your website? I would love to see what others say on this topic.
Hi Bianca! Thanks for posting your comment. We don't have any statistics yet, but we could ask for groups like the Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas on it. We fear that there is no real monitoring on this that is happening especially in the provinces because the lines are blurred between journalists and block timers. We really need to look at it closely because radio still remains to have the widest reach and strongest impact, especially in the countryside.
We have just begun the discussion, and we are lucky to have you as are our first 'commentator.' All comments would be posted here.
Rorie Fajardo
Coordinator, Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project
" Whoever has the gold, makes the rules" In the case of blocktimer-journalists they allow themselves to be used by the sponsor bankrolling them as the mouthpiece, and like any other employed person, the media personality delivers to please his/her employer. There are cases where the sponsor dictates the content/platform and few where the voice is given a lot of margin to expound on a certin issue, sometimes developmental in nature. I think that traditional tenets of journalism are disregarded by blockjournalists with the money motive as they would in fact be more of a propagandist than a journalist as we define the latter in no uncertain terms.
You are rights, Hazel. Block timing poses threats to our duties to be fair and balanced in all our reports. It is usual practice among block timers to naturally spare their sponsors from commentaries or criticisms in their radio programs. Most often, block timed programs are made precisely to provide politicians or other interest groups the space to promote their agenda and hit their opponents. A positive note is that journalists' groups are aware of this problem and are trying to address it, although it would surely be a long, long way to go.
Rorie Fajardo
Coordinator, Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project
Many thanks for ur reply and for validating my opinion. I guess if christians can have an entire network promote the gospel (Far East Broadcasting Co). then who's to stop other advocates of their version of the gospel (ie. Quiboloy) as long as the values are not harmful to society in general.But then what about those who have the moolah and means to put up their own network to counter the gospel? say...druids of certain persuasions? Would this be the essence of democracy and exercise of rights or should there be some guidelining effort (like the interfaith orgs) to regulate such activity, besides of course the KBP to act as an arbiter in such endeavors? Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of human rights does protect both sides of the religious fence.
Noel Sales Barcelona
-
block timers are journalists t
2008-11-15 18:14:22
I've worked with a program with one of the radio stations operated and funded by the State.
Because we are paying the air time, we are free to discuss everything under the sun.
We have to admit that some of the blocktimers do not have the "brakes" whenever they speak and some of their sources are dubious.
However, the generalization that blocktimers are backed by political, religious or other selfish interests, could be dangerous too.
I know some blocktimers are concerned citizens. Nonetheless, they will not risk their lives airing or publishing materials that they deem to be "for the interest or information of the public."
On the issue of professionalism and "economism", the current situation of the media practice in the Philippines as a whole, is a product of somehow abnormal societal systems.
Unless there'll be a complete shift, there'll be no beneficial changes.
Everyone could be a journalist (bloggers, posters, reporters, etc). Blocktimers are, too. The only difference settles in the views and opinions any one of us keeps. Also, it rests on the tenor of the message and the context of which, each of us intends to deliver.
Take for example NBN-4, IBC-13 and RPN-9 (until Solar [Wilson Tieng] acquired all time blocks). These stations have lost viewership because the Government people have used them as propaganda tools. This is contrary to the true concept of Public Broadcasting. NBN-4 is funded by the government but it is a cohort of the incumbent government and not of the people, for the people and by the people of the Republic. Kaya lahat sila SIPSIP.
At the height of the Hello-Garci scandal, ABS-CBN kept a stance seemingly irritating to the Arroyo Government. GMA-7 on the other hand, delivered its brand of news with a courteous flavor. In the end, GMA-7 ended like a chismis corner or source for second hand news information, when m...
Everyone could be a journalist (bloggers, posters, reporters, etc). Blocktimers are, too. The only difference settles in the views and opinions any one of us keeps. Also, it rests on the tenor of the message and the context of which, each of us intends to deliver.
Take for example NBN-4, IBC-13 and RPN-9 (until Solar [Wilson Tieng] acquired all time blocks). These stations have lost viewership because the Government people have used them as propaganda tools. This is contrary to the true concept of Public Broadcasting. NBN-4 is funded by the government but it is a cohort of the incumbent government and not of the people, for the people and by the people of the Republic. Kaya lahat sila SIPSIP.
At the height of the Hello-Garci scandal, ABS-CBN kept a stance seemingly irritating to the Arroyo Government. GMA-7 on the other hand, delivered its brand of news with a courteous flavor. In the end, GMA-7 ended like a chismis corner when most of their statements were non-committal a...
