A public communication system?
DO we need an alternative to the present commercial broadcast system? And why focus on TV and radio at an age where we are seeing a convergence of delivery systems – mass media, telecommunication and Internet? How would policy address this proliferation of in the current media landscape where we have moved from single to multi-channel, from analogue to digital, a variety of platforms and providers, and a range of paid and free video on-demand services? We did not have much time for the policy issues on the new technologies as the discussion centered on public service broadcasting (PSB).
In my presentation together with co-panelists, former UP broadcasting professor Beth Diaz and incoming UP College of Communication dean, Elena Pernia, I brought up the issue of why we need to revive the lobby for the bill on a public broadcast system that started some twenty years ago. This was even before the Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation which its advocates think may not make it again this 16th Congress.
Why are we again pushing the PSB despite the history of failure of other legislation that would promote people’s access? What makes us believe that this time it would succeed? The optimists that we are, (although towards the end some of us began to sense the reality of the influence of powerful forces around us), we thought that there is today a growing interest in broadening the level playing field as shown by the enactment of the Fair Competition law and PNoy’s urging the Congress to prioritize the Anti-dynasty bill.
Our situationer shows what many of us already know – the dominance of the commercial model and the control of media in the hands of a few. Thus, if there are excesses today over-emphasis on entertainment and lack of public affairs and investigative reporting which many believe had amplified adverse forces such as violence, consumerism, and audience fragmentation.
The concerns of the market are not able to accommodate the long-terms aims of nation-building and the enhancement of citizenship and cultural goals. In fact, what we decry as growing gaps – income, social, and literacy gaps between the center and the peripheries, can be primarily attributed to the concentration of information and knowledge resources at the center. But the more critical concern now is the need to provide independent and authentic voices of truth that would guard the welfare of the vulnerable – the poor, ethnic communities and those who are disempowered because of illiteracy and lack of legal and other resources.
But how can we be reassured that a PBS will remain independent? What makes us think that what a PBS proposes to do – provide programming that will offer a wide variety of choices, operate without interference by government and powerful interest groups, and become truly accountable to the people? Of course there are risks and there is no full assurance of success, but there are examples elsewhere where PSB models have proven to be effective. One feature that they share is that the members of their boards of governance are selected according to criteria of integrity, and independence and that they represent major sectors, including the basic sectors of society. Too, their financing system would not allow any one group to have control over policy and program decisions.
Many thinking citizens in our country are aware of the consequences of allowing a few oligarchies to have control over our economy. And they have expressed this concern in many ways including lobbying for anti-trust and rights-oriented laws such as the FOI, Charter change, and strengthening of the implementation of the Magna Carta for labor, farmers, women and children. The process of democratization can also be facilitated through a citizen- owned and managed communication system such as a PSB. By giving the rationale cited earlier and the fact that “the airwaves belong to the people”, we can start with a law that will establish a PSB. It does not have to operate as a national system. It can be a regional center for either Cebu, Davao, or Baguio where there are active citizens’ groups and community media. But it should be stressed that any initiative must start with an adequate endowment that would enable it to set the kind of standard needed for quality programming for its news, public affairs, educational, and entertainment features. To gain that kind of credibility, it must adhere to the highest standards of accuracy, truth, impartiality, and comprehensiveness. But can we muster enough political will to work towards this challenge?
My email, florangel.braid@ gmail.com