HAO-SIAO, we call the scalawags in media.
They who come in packs, outfitted with outmoded and faded press vests, press cards the size of coupon bonds hanging from their necks, almost always riding rented Checkpoint-Holy or some such passenger jeepney.
They invariably come to government offices around mealtime expecting, nay, demanding free chow.
They claim affiliation with some never-heard-of radio station or never-seen publication. Others bring blueprints of some maiden issue of a paper ready for released but for the feature story on the government office or its chief, specially reserved on the still-blank back page.
In some instances, they pounce on the chief of office with purported information – a thick dossier they would say – very unflattering if not outrightly adverse, to him or her. They would like to take his/her side, they’d say, but would drop hints here and there of “killing” the story out of the chief’s “generosity” to them.
Others are more straightforward, offering a price for their “highly explosive story.”
Then, there are those too who bring to the chief’s desk clippings of published news and photo releases about him/her and the office with corresponding vouchers or blank receipts. No, Sir and Madame, news stories are not for sale.
You can never miss these media scalawags in large functions, whether government or private. They clean the tables of all left-overs, brining their own foody, er, “doggy” bags.
The media scalawags stick out like a sore thumb in provincial newspapering. So easy to see, and beware, of them.
Not as ubiquitous are reporters and photographers of legitimate publications doing much worse than the media scalawags.
No, they don’t rent public utility vehicles to do their “orbit” of government offices and business establishments.
They drive their own cars, some even have their own chauffeur to move around for coverages and media conferences.
Unlike your usual hao-siao, they would not settle for P100 or even five times that amount. Their minimum price – for attendance – is P1,000 over a free meal. A few carry their own price – not on demand of the event sponsors – but up front. Else, neither story nor photograph of the event will appear in their paper.
And while your usual hao-siao is generally docile and self-effacing, this breed is characterized by bitchiness: punyetas invariably fly out their mouths when events they cover start late; special privileges are demanded from public relations departments of commercial establishments; they ask for the best seats in theaters and restaurants, to the point of sequestering places at presidential tables.
At Christmas parties, they demand the fattest envelopes and the biggest goody bags. They make their birthdays events for open solicitation of cash and gifts.
Last week, media practitioners raised the issue of integrity in journalism as regards radio and television blocktime shows funded by candidates and elected officials, asking the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas to take the necessary action.
“The commercial nature of most media enterprises in the Philippines makes elections a high-revenue season. But it is incumbent on the owners of such businesses to observe their responsibilities to the public and to disclose fully the source of sponsorship for the programs they air. Otherwise, the public may be misled and influenced by those they may perceive to be independent commentators but are after all only paid hacks.”
So said the statement of the mediamen to the KBP. Not only paid hacks but extortionists in the print media must be dealt with accordingly too.
The integrity of journalism need be protected indeed. Against the scalawags and extortionists we write about now, something stringent should be taken by all mediamen worth their hard-earned by-lines.
An instance of extortion during the press conference for the launch of the technical school at Expo Filipino run by Australian investors has been reported to the Central Luzon Press Council.
This will be a good start to weed out the parasites and leeches in the local media ranks.
Let us name names, and let public scorn be heaped on them.
They who come in packs, outfitted with outmoded and faded press vests, press cards the size of coupon bonds hanging from their necks, almost always riding rented Checkpoint-Holy or some such passenger jeepney.
They invariably come to government offices around mealtime expecting, nay, demanding free chow.
They claim affiliation with some never-heard-of radio station or never-seen publication. Others bring blueprints of some maiden issue of a paper ready for released but for the feature story on the government office or its chief, specially reserved on the still-blank back page.
In some instances, they pounce on the chief of office with purported information – a thick dossier they would say – very unflattering if not outrightly adverse, to him or her. They would like to take his/her side, they’d say, but would drop hints here and there of “killing” the story out of the chief’s “generosity” to them.
Others are more straightforward, offering a price for their “highly explosive story.”
Then, there are those too who bring to the chief’s desk clippings of published news and photo releases about him/her and the office with corresponding vouchers or blank receipts. No, Sir and Madame, news stories are not for sale.
You can never miss these media scalawags in large functions, whether government or private. They clean the tables of all left-overs, brining their own foody, er, “doggy” bags.
The media scalawags stick out like a sore thumb in provincial newspapering. So easy to see, and beware, of them.
Not as ubiquitous are reporters and photographers of legitimate publications doing much worse than the media scalawags.
No, they don’t rent public utility vehicles to do their “orbit” of government offices and business establishments.
They drive their own cars, some even have their own chauffeur to move around for coverages and media conferences.
Unlike your usual hao-siao, they would not settle for P100 or even five times that amount. Their minimum price – for attendance – is P1,000 over a free meal. A few carry their own price – not on demand of the event sponsors – but up front. Else, neither story nor photograph of the event will appear in their paper.
And while your usual hao-siao is generally docile and self-effacing, this breed is characterized by bitchiness: punyetas invariably fly out their mouths when events they cover start late; special privileges are demanded from public relations departments of commercial establishments; they ask for the best seats in theaters and restaurants, to the point of sequestering places at presidential tables.
At Christmas parties, they demand the fattest envelopes and the biggest goody bags. They make their birthdays events for open solicitation of cash and gifts.
Last week, media practitioners raised the issue of integrity in journalism as regards radio and television blocktime shows funded by candidates and elected officials, asking the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas to take the necessary action.
“The commercial nature of most media enterprises in the Philippines makes elections a high-revenue season. But it is incumbent on the owners of such businesses to observe their responsibilities to the public and to disclose fully the source of sponsorship for the programs they air. Otherwise, the public may be misled and influenced by those they may perceive to be independent commentators but are after all only paid hacks.”
So said the statement of the mediamen to the KBP. Not only paid hacks but extortionists in the print media must be dealt with accordingly too.
The integrity of journalism need be protected indeed. Against the scalawags and extortionists we write about now, something stringent should be taken by all mediamen worth their hard-earned by-lines.
An instance of extortion during the press conference for the launch of the technical school at Expo Filipino run by Australian investors has been reported to the Central Luzon Press Council.
This will be a good start to weed out the parasites and leeches in the local media ranks.
Let us name names, and let public scorn be heaped on them.
