MALOLOS CITY—Journalists from across the country has asked the Kapisanan ng Broadkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) to look into blocktimers, especially those funded by candidates and local government units (LGUs), to protect the integrity of journalism in the country.
This came after print and broadcast journalists who participated in a two day round table discussion over the weekend expressed concern over the impact of block timers hosting shows sponsored or funded by LGUs and candidates in the 2010 elections. The activity was sponsored by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR).
In a one page statement released by the CMFR yesterday, journalists said that “these programs are obviously part of the campaigns of candidates. Unfortunately, these are not identified as political advertising, and can be misconstrued as independent commentary over radio.”
The statement said, “as a self-regulatory body for broadcast media, the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP, Alliance of Broadcasters of the Philippines) upholds ethical practice among their members and requires them to make sure that their programs observe professional values.”
“One of the tenets of news and public affairs programs is to make the distinction clear between news and information and advertising material such as commercials,” it said.
Journalists said that political space and airtime paid for by political candidates should be identified as such and reminded the KBP that “if it is paid for by a local government office, then the people should know that it is tax payers’ money that is being spent, in clear violation of the electoral law.”
The statement further said “the KBP should discern which blocktimers are paid by political campaign groups. It is within the KBP’s powers to police the ranks of broadcast practitioners all over the country. In a landmark election such as the 2010 ballot, the media should let voters know when talk shows are part of someone’s political campaign.”
The statement also stressed that CMFR and journalist who signed it are not calling for the banning of blocktimers or their sponsorship by political candidates.
Instead, it said that “we are simply obliging them to make full disclosure of the nature of their programs. We are calling for the observance of ethical norms for the broadcast news media. This call does not violate anyone’s freedom of expression.”
It also noted that “we want the KBP to follow the fundamental prescriptions of free press practice. If the press is to retain public trust, then press programs—and these include any program that carries political information—should be autonomous and independent of political pressure and influence. The public should know if talk show programs have been bought to serve the purpose of advertising for candidates.”
It added that “the persistence of politically-sponsored block-time news and public affairs programs masquerading as independent news and commentary reflects a highly dysfunctional press system.”
“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,” the statement said.
As this developed, journalists in Central Luzon wonders on what will be the impact of the said statement on local radio and television stations where a number of programs aired are perceived to be funded by local government units and local candidates.
Some of those programs, especially on a regional television station, have been on air for more than two years now.
This came after print and broadcast journalists who participated in a two day round table discussion over the weekend expressed concern over the impact of block timers hosting shows sponsored or funded by LGUs and candidates in the 2010 elections. The activity was sponsored by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR).
In a one page statement released by the CMFR yesterday, journalists said that “these programs are obviously part of the campaigns of candidates. Unfortunately, these are not identified as political advertising, and can be misconstrued as independent commentary over radio.”
The statement said, “as a self-regulatory body for broadcast media, the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP, Alliance of Broadcasters of the Philippines) upholds ethical practice among their members and requires them to make sure that their programs observe professional values.”
“One of the tenets of news and public affairs programs is to make the distinction clear between news and information and advertising material such as commercials,” it said.
Journalists said that political space and airtime paid for by political candidates should be identified as such and reminded the KBP that “if it is paid for by a local government office, then the people should know that it is tax payers’ money that is being spent, in clear violation of the electoral law.”
The statement further said “the KBP should discern which blocktimers are paid by political campaign groups. It is within the KBP’s powers to police the ranks of broadcast practitioners all over the country. In a landmark election such as the 2010 ballot, the media should let voters know when talk shows are part of someone’s political campaign.”
The statement also stressed that CMFR and journalist who signed it are not calling for the banning of blocktimers or their sponsorship by political candidates.
Instead, it said that “we are simply obliging them to make full disclosure of the nature of their programs. We are calling for the observance of ethical norms for the broadcast news media. This call does not violate anyone’s freedom of expression.”
It also noted that “we want the KBP to follow the fundamental prescriptions of free press practice. If the press is to retain public trust, then press programs—and these include any program that carries political information—should be autonomous and independent of political pressure and influence. The public should know if talk show programs have been bought to serve the purpose of advertising for candidates.”
It added that “the persistence of politically-sponsored block-time news and public affairs programs masquerading as independent news and commentary reflects a highly dysfunctional press system.”
“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,” the statement said.
As this developed, journalists in Central Luzon wonders on what will be the impact of the said statement on local radio and television stations where a number of programs aired are perceived to be funded by local government units and local candidates.
Some of those programs, especially on a regional television station, have been on air for more than two years now.
