IN FOCUS:The Role of the Fourth Estate

in a Democracy

Our Role:

….is to inform the public with accurate and clear information on events that matter to them.

Media coverage situationer:Northern Luzon setting

The MEDIA – television, radio and print – cover a mixture of crime stories, conflict, judiciary, law enforcement activities, environment, health, business, culture and arts, tourism, science and technoloy, indigenous peoples’ concerns, women and children, developmental stories… and others events that matter to the public.

Issues on Local Governance:

Graft and corrupt practicesMisuse and Abuse of Power Red tapeInfluenced-peddlingToo much politicking/grandstandingUnfulfilled promises

Issues on local business:

Inter-locking business interestsPeace and order situationLack of support for SMEsNon-remittance of SSS,PHIC, premiums and withholding tax.Absence of coordination, consultations on high-impact projects.

Issues on Environment:

Illegal loggingIllegal fishingExpansion of commercial farms in forest and watershed reservationsLand conversion from agricultural land to subdivisionsRegulation of small-scale mining and quarryingUrban migrationSolid waste problems

Media Action in Relation to issues:

Humanizing the stories.Come out with news that citizens need to be educated about; issues and current events critical to decision making, call for a dialogue and action.Produce stories that motivate citizens to think and even act and not simply entice them to read, watch and listen.

UNETHICAL MEDIA PRACTICES1. ENVELOPMENTAL JOURNALISM: Reasons• Economic situation of the outfits. • Low compensation. • Some journalists are not receiving regular salaries at all..

2. INFLUENCE-PEDDLING.

3.DISTORTION OF FACTS.• Wrong attribution.• Out of context.

4. INSENSITIVITY to gender, religious, tribal and political affiliations.

NEW MEDIA AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA:

A. NEW MEDIA:•Blogs•Facebooks•Sms•Twitter•YoutubeB. TRADITIONAL MEDIA•Television•Radio•Print•Online portal

New media can’t replace traditional media.

OUR ACTION PLAN:

Create Facebook account as starter for institutionalizing feedback mechanism.Training on civic journalism .Social immersion program for member journalists.Establishment of a Northern Luzon Society for Responsible Journalism. Establishment of Northern Luzon Journalists Welfare Protection Fund.Pressure/request Congress to pass a magna carta for journalists (i.e. salary standardization) .

Thank You!