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
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