The Media's Role In Nation Building?

If you have been paying attention for the past six years you would know that the media has been relentlessly attacked by politicians and pundits. From Rigoberto Tiglao, himself a media personality, to President Duterte the media and journalists have been excoriated as being nothing more than a bunch of liars. Duterte himself even condoned the killing of journalists saying they deserved it. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/788543/duterte-endorses-killing-corrupt-journalists

“Just because you’re a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, if you’re a son of a bitch,” Duterte said when asked how he would address the problem of media killings in the Philippines after a reporter was shot dead in Manila last week.

“Most of those killed, to be frank, have done something. You won’t be killed if you don’t do anything wrong,” Duterte said, adding that many journalists in the Philippines were corrupt. 

From the closure of ABS-CBN to the harassment faced by Rappler the media has come under fire lately and journalists turn up dead with alarming regularity.  That makes this recent pronouncement by the Speaker of the House, who is a nephew of Imelda Marcos and a cousin of the President, all the more puzzling. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1181065

House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday highlighted the role of media as the fourth estate of Philippine democracy tasked to inform and educate the public and check up on the three branches of government.

During his meeting with the United Print and Multimedia Group (UPMG) officials in his office, Romualdez said the government should consider media as a partner in nation-building instead of shunning them away.

“From day one in government, I have considered the Philippine media not as an adversary but a partner in nation-building,” Romualdez said. “Some say we in government should be wary of journalists as the media usually focus on the negatives rather than report the positive. They say, good news don’t make headlines. My experience with Filipino journalists debunks this myth."

Romualdez said he has met a number of journalists who are decent and responsible members of the profession.

“They are nosy, yes, but they are just doing their job. And they are helping us do our job, too. With their help, we galvanize popular support for measures that are needed to uplift the living condition of our people,” he said.

He said while he had been at the receiving end of negative media reports, it serves as an opportunity to explain his side to the public and expound on the issues involved.

"Media reports - be it positive or negative - give us, government officials, relevant and timely feedback from the public with regard to our official acts. They also provide us with a platform on issues that need discussed with a bigger public,” he said.

He urged the members of the media to continue giving "valuable space" in their publications for the government's discussions with the public regarding its policies, programs, and goals.

“We need your help in getting across this administration’s message to a larger audience. Our message: unity for a bigger purpose. Our vision: a Filipino nation with its people living comfortably and secured in their environment,” he said.

“The media industry is called the Fourth Estate for a purpose. It is incumbent upon you to provide public service like what we do in the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The task ahead may be full of challenges, but there is nothing we cannot achieve in unity with our people,” Romualdez said.

That any politician would ever consider the media to the an enemy speaks volumes. However I do not believe he is talking about independent media here. He mentions that they need help "getting across this administration's message." What does the mean exactly?  Press Secretary Trixie Cruz tells us explicitly. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180980

The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) is prioritizing the granting of interviews to government media under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said this is her agency’s “standout policy” since Marcos assumed office.

“Under the single messaging policy for President and, we also give a premium to government media first,” she said in an interview over state-run Radyo Pilipinas on Wednesday.

Cruz-Angeles said private media will also be accommodated, but state media will be given "a premium first."

“Although napagbigyan naman natin iyong iba (we grant interviews to other media outlets), there are some stations that we allowed interviews, we usually give a premium first to our government station” she added.

If you remember during the campaign season Bongbong Marcos shunned the media.  He gave no interviews and did not attend any debates.  He did give interviews with SMNI which is run by Apollo Quiboloy who thinks he is Jesus Christ but he shunned everyone else. As President he will continue to do the same. 

This is called propaganda. Bongbong knows that as President and as his father's son he will be under a lot of scrutiny and what we see here is an unwillingness to be forthright with the people. Instead of dealing with traditional media he will give preference to the government's media outlets. So, what it means for the media to be partners in nation building according to this cousin Martin Romuladez is that the people have to listen to and believe state run propaganda. Anything contrary to that will be heresy.