THE UNDERSIGNED are professors and lecturers of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC) in Diliman. Some are regular members of the University faculty with backgrounds and experience in media studies, mass communication education, and media practice. Some are primarily media practitioners who lend their expertise and experience to the University in the training of media practitioners. All are members of the teaching staffs of the CMC's Departments of Broadcast Communication, Communication Research, Film and Audio Visual Communication, Graduate Studies, and Journalism.
All of us have reason to be concerned over the most recent events in media, but not solely because some of us as practitioners will be directly affected by these events. As media educators, we are equally concerned because these events are likely to affect the current and future state of the media professions, for which we are engaged in the training of practitioners, and where thousands of our graduates are currently practicing. Beyond this, however, as citizens, we are equally concerned over the impact of these events on press freedom, which we view as crucial to the democratization process in Philippine society.
Over the last few days, we have see nthe withdrawal of advertising from the Inquirer not only by movie producers but also by various business interests including the distributors of foreign films, telecommunications companies, banks, and government agencies. Deny it as they will, these advertisers, by acting in concert, could only have acted at the behest of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Malacaņang has also denied influencing this decision, but all available information suggest a high-level attempt to intimidate the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Of paramount relevance is that this action could only have been punitive - against a newspaper President Estrada has been critical of for months. While motives are difficult to establish, the consequences of an act often suggest the motive for it. Undoubtedly, the Inquirer will suffer from loss of revenue. Under these circumstances, the Inquirer has two choices: persist in its present coverage; or capitulate by providing Mr. Estrada the favorable coverage he craves.
Both options augur poorly for the Inquirer, and, we submit, for the Philippine press. If the Inquirer persists in its present path, and the boycott is sustained, and the financial damage extensive, the Inquirer could even cease publication altogether. This would mean the loss to a public eager for information and which under a democracy has a right to it, of a newspaper that undoubtedly has the allegiance of hundreds of thousands of readers precisely because of its independence and courage. On the other hand, should the Inquirer capitulate, the damage not only to the Inquirer as an independent newspaper but also to press freedom would be equally great. The capitulation of one newspaper to government would by itself be damaging to press freedom, as well as likely to lead to other forms of surrender by the press and media in general. It is indeed likely that Mr. Estrada, his advisers, and his cronies in the movie and other industries were encouraged by the capitulation to government pressure, only three months ago, of the Manila Times.
When the Manila Times surrendered to Mr. Estrada by way of an abject apology for a libel that never was, virtually the same current apologists for the Estrada government claimed that press freedom was not the issue. It should be apparent by now how wrong they were - and how the Manila Times case is chained to the Inquirer boycott by the iron link of media intimidation.
The Manila Times case as well as the Inquirer boycott demonstrate how vulnerable media owners are, given the range of their business interests, all of them subject to SEC investigations and government tax audits. This vulnerability has been specially pronounced since new players entered the media industries in the aftermath of EDSA 1986. This vulnerability, however, appears not to be enough for either the Estrada government, its friends, or both. The surest way to a good press is to own the press, as Ferdinand Marcos demonstrated on the eve of martial law and during that dark and brutal period. Ownership can be direct or indirect, literal or figurative. In the heels of the Inquirer boycott have come events suggesting that Mr. Estrada and friends prefer direct and literal ownership.
Mr. Mark Jimenez, a fugitive from American law and at the very least a close Estrada associate, is said to be involved in the purchase of the Manila Times from its timorous owners. He and other individuals close to the presidency are also said to be buying into other newspapers, even as the word is out that the government-owned Philippine Journal will soon be converted into an entertainment magazine. None of these events are positive for the present and future of the Philippine press, if only because they are sure indications that a crony press is a-building. Such a press would have rights above the others, with its access to the Presidential ear, and to his other sense organs. Such a press would be, to borrow a phrase current during the martial law period, "more equal than others."
These events should be of concern to everyone, including those who, having once fancied themselves as fighters for freedom, now defend assaults on it by the government in the agencies of which they serve. Those who eagerly anticipate windfalls of advertising to come their way from the Inquirer boycott should be equally worried. There should by now be ample proof that democracy in these parts is a fragile thing, that press freedom despite Constitutional guarantees is only as strong as those willing to defend it - and that the tactics of intimidation can just as easily be used against all as against one. We urge our colleagues in other communication schools, all media practitioners, people's organizations, and all other groups not only to protest these assaults on media, but also to close ranks in the defense of press freedom and its role in the democratization of a society where democracy is constantly under threat from government as well as its mindless allies.
CHARISSA M. FAJARDO Lecturer in Communication and Research MA. RAMONA L. JIMENEZ Instructor in Communication and Research LOURDES M. PORTUS Lecturer in Communication and Research MARILOU C. SANTOS Lecturer in Communication and Research BENITO LIM Professor of Asian Studies and Lecturer in Broadcast Communication REYNALDO GUIOGUIO Professor in Journalism ARMI V. SANTIAGO Assistant Professor of Film JOVENAL VELASCO Instructor in Film DODGE DILLAGUE Senior Lecturer of Film ROBERT QUEBRAL Senior Lecturer of Film ELIZA CORNEJO Senior Lecturer of Film NONOY DADIVAS Senior Lecturer of Film ROEHL L. JAMON Instructor in Film ROLAND TOLENTINO Assistant Professor of Film MA. AMOR OLAGUER Senior Lecturer of Film ROSA MARIA T. FELICIANO Asst. Professor of Broadcast Comm. ELIZABETH L. ENRIQUEZ Asst. Professor of Broadcast Comm. PERLITA MANALILI Asst. Professor of Broadcast Comm. LITO TIONGSON Lecturer in Broadcast Communication JOSEFINA SANTOS Instructor in Broadcast Communication JANE O. VINCULADO Lecturer in Broadcast Communication ELIZABETH LORENZANA DIAZ Associate Professor in Broadcast Comm. DANIEL SANTOS Professorial Lecturer of Broadcast Comm. JONATHAN L. RONDINA Instructor in Broadcast Communication ALELI A. QUIRANTE Assoc. Prof. of Communication Research & Director, Off. of Extension and Research Publication JOSE R. LACSON, JR. Associate Professor of Communication and Research and Chair FLORINDA D.F. MATEO Assistant Professor of Communication and Research ELENA E. PERNIA Associate Professor of Communication and Research ANDRES G. SEVILLA Instructor in Communication and Research LUIS V. TEODORO Professor of Journalism and Dean CAROLINA S. MALAY Assistant Professor of Journalism and Chair GEORGINA R. ENCANTO Professor of Journalism PSYCHE ROXAS-MENDOZA Instructor in Journalism VICENTE G. TIROL Lecturer in Journalism MARICHU C. LAMBINO Assistant Professor of Journalism DOREEN D.L. JOSE Assistant Professor of Journalism ANTHONY REYES Instructor in Journalism PAZ H. DIAZ Assistant Professor in Journalism JOSE DURAN Senior Lecturer of Journalism GIL NARTEA Senior Lecturer of Journalism EVELYN P. ADORABLE Senior Lecturer of Journalism VERONICA C. SILVA Senior Lecturer of Journalism RAMIRO C. ALVAREZ Senior Lecturer of Journalism TESSA JAZMINES Associate Professor of Journalism TERESA SINGUN Senior Lecturer of Journalism DANA BATNAG Lecturer in Journalism GIGI JAVIER ALFONSO Professor of Film NICANOR TIONGSON Professor of Film ELLEN J. PAGLINAUAN Associate Professor of Film ED LEJANO Instructor in Film EDUARDO J. PIANO Instructor in Film
