tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15501969.post114105034334849173..comments2023-05-17T18:29:37.249+08:00Comments on Bryanton Post: Martial law is here again?Hector Bryant L. Macalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14093479917560880855noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15501969.post-1141367169367268402006-03-03T14:26:00.000+08:002006-03-03T14:26:00.000+08:00@ crimsonarrows.I don't think that the press overr...@ crimsonarrows.<BR/><BR/>I don't think that the press overreacted with the way it responded to the PP 1017. After all, the proclamation is almost copied and pasted from Proclamation 1081 during Marcos time, where the democratic institutions we had were destroyed. <BR/><BR/>More importantly, the press was just right in its condemnation of the proclamation. Media serves the public. It acts as a public steward -- that's why the press is often called the "watchdog" of the government and the public. If the government is able to muzzle the press, then who would serve as the watchdog for the public? If the government was indeed able to muzzle the press, then who would stop the government from doing the same to the ordinary citizens?<BR/><BR/>I totally understand and share your concern that media should be responsible, i.e. that is being objective in its reports. But, you see, the problem is, how can the press do that if it is not free and limited to what the State defines as news that is acceptable?<BR/><BR/>Like any institutions in a working democracy such as the Philippines, the press here in the country is not perfect. And journalists, especially the well-meaning ones, know that. Sensationalism, irresponsibility, corruption, lack of journalistic training, among others -- these are some of the nagging problems journalists face here in the Philippines. But journalists are trying to address these problems. Believe me. Although there may be journalists out there who are irresponsible in their reports, there are certainly those who report issues well, following the basic journalistic values of accuracy, balance, and fairness.<BR/><BR/>Yes, we in the press want to be objective and balanced in reporting the news. But before we can be able to do that, we must be first free in reporting the hidden and half-naked truths in our society. If the press is not free to report anything critical about the government, then it is a press bereft of dignity and credibility.Hector Bryant L. Macalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14093479917560880855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15501969.post-1141092126766252302006-02-28T10:02:00.000+08:002006-02-28T10:02:00.000+08:00I totally understand the media raising an alarm on...I totally understand the media raising an alarm on martial rule, etc. What I think, though, is that we are paying the price for press adventurism. The media guard with utmost zealousness their constitutionally-protected right of free speech. <BR/><BR/>I hope they would put the same effort in protecting their cardinal credo: objectivity. You get the idea?<BR/><BR/>The media does not like to receive a beating that comes from outside their ranks, and raises hell when criticisms are exacted towards them. But they do not like to lift a finger to police their ranks. <BR/><BR/>Papers like Tribune, one that makes no apologies about its stand on the political issues of country is left to flourish and spit personal opinions of the publisher (Ninez Cacho), calls herself a journalist, and voila! She walks around with he veil of protection brought about by free speech.<BR/><BR/>The right to free press, to me, is sacred. The journalists, among themselves, must also guard it from people who don the journalist badge while doing a modern-day Joseph Goebbels. <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>-crimsonarrowsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com