This article, the third in a series, explores the role of the Philippine press in perpetuating corruption and failing to uphold democratic values. The author argues that the media has been more concerned with wielding power and personal gain than with serving the public interest.
Third of a seriesIn the first two parts of this series, I explained how the DDS, or 'Diehard Duterte Supporters,' morphed into existence after the May 2016 elections as an example of how social media platforms (i.e., Facebook) were overrun by 'social media famous' nobodies.
The throng who swarmed social media after 2016, however, had no sense of how important that moment was for Filipinos, mindlessly salivating over the personal gain that could potentially be had from this social media revolution.Consequently, social media became no different from the Philippine press, whom Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew chastised in 1988 as having essentially 'failed the Filipino people.' Lee lambasted the Filipino media's failure to lead important national discussions concerning economic growth and inequitable distribution. In a previous column, I similarly opined that journalists failed our people by lusting after partisan politics in the country, as an onrush of media men ran for public office while media networks maneuvered to become kingmakers in Philippine politics.Melinda de Jesus heralded the crucial role played by the Philippine press in fighting government corruption that 'contributed to the firing of corrupt officials, forced government agencies to investigate cases and even brought about the impeachment of a president (2000) and a chief justice of the Supreme Court (2011).' However, it was not an authentic crusade for justice. Rather it provided an opportunity for the media to flex its power to (make and) unmake the highest officials of the land and cultivated a sense of fear among politicians and businessmen about what they can do to them personally and their vital interests. It was an occasion to advertise media power, further emboldening media avarice to open more vistas for corruption.Had the Filipino press been true guardians of democracy, they would have sided with Sen. Joker Arroyo during the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona in 201
Philippine Press Corruption Democracy Media Power Journalism
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