‘Covering’ the media or taking advantage of it

LETTERS FROM THe AGNO 

March Fianza 

Except for a few working newsmen that colleagues and I know, most have taken the effort to go about their duties and responsibilities regularly, minus the hanky-panky. They have been going around their beat, always having in the back of their mind that they are guided by a journalist’s code of ethics that is both written and unwritten. The rules are very simple and easy to understand. Although in several instances, the rules were also violated, knowingly or not. From then on since I became one of them, we have been seeing each other almost everyday. Of course, if the boys in the group spend their days and nights chasing after the good and bad news together where only the time allotted for sleeping separated them, there is the tendency that they come to know each other from head to foot like he knew the back of his hand. If that is the case then we are aware of each other’s movements and know that once in a while we have violated rules listed in the journalist’s code of ethics.

What I now have in mind are not the violations that newsmen wittingly or unwittingly commit while on duty, such as suppressing or omitting facts, distorting the truth, and not getting the side of the other parties. It is not even the violation of writing or broadcasting reports that destroy the reputation of a private person. What I wish to point out this time is not what media men write about their subjects who are part of their beat, but what they commit against their colleagues. Upon reading again the Journalist Code of Ethics, I came across the line that said “I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow journalist.” This, to me, is the one rule that has been consistently violated by media practitioners against their own kind. Never mind that many of us do not get the correct salaries we are supposed to bring home. At least that comes as a common agreement between the publisher and the article contributor who both take advantage of each other. At least, both parties understand the fact that publishing a newspaper in this part of the country is not the business that is consistently profitable to sustain production. In many cases, aside from running a newspaper as a business venture, the owner wants to do his share in trying to “fiscalize the world” or the affairs of a community by providing the space that a newsman who just loves his work takes advantage of.

If two parties agree to take advantage of each other, that is better. But if only one side takes advantage of the other with the latter not knowing it, that is bad. Last week, senatorial bets of the two contending political parties breezed through Baguio and held their respective proclamation rallies. Apparently, the budget to pay for the necessary news coverage of the campaign rally by the opposition was handed to someone close to a local candidate. In a document that the Baguio Chronicle got hold of, at least four names appeared, along with around 40 unidentified media personalities belonging to various print, radio and television news outfits who were the recipients of “manna from heaven.” I was shown the document and saw of course the big TV stations listed along with the two big radio stations and popular news publications in the city. While there were markings on the right side corresponding to the outfits and names of the media personalities that may be indications of who were paid and who were not, I am not sure if those listed actually received what was due them as there was no way to find out except to ask the person listed. If they were not paid for their efforts, then someone made easy money. Poor newsman. The amount for the news coverage, including equipment rental and mobilization expenses, according to the document, reached a total of P208,593.   

Many weeks ago, the new BCBC leadership received a “proposal” from some officials of the Association of Barangay Councils in Baguio about becoming the “beneficiary” of the proceeds of Bingo games that the ABC will soon undertake. I am against the proposal whether the Bingo games were legal or illegal because I have the feeling the Bingo games were to be a “front” for bingoteng or jueteng. The proposal, for whatever reason it was made, was done to tie down newsmen from writing, broadcasting, criticizing gambling as an issue once it becomes controversial. In other words, some of the proponents wanted us newsmen to fall into their trap. By the way, in jueteng operations, a number of newsmen belonging to the print and broadcast outfits are recipients of proceeds of the illegal numbers game. We know this for a fact but we are not complaining. Let them have it all. What we only wish to point out is that names of people have been listed as takers but do not actually receive anything. As always, someone has been receiving the money on their behalf. For years, these media personalities have been taking unfair advantage of their colleagues. –marchfianza777@yahoo.com