JUST DOING ITS JOB

The press has been under government pressure and has been accused of unfair and irresponsible reporting about the Duterte administration. However, interns of The Manila Times College generally agree the press has been very factual. PHOTO BY ALECSANDRA GO, PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF TOMASINO WEB, THE OFFICIAL DIGITAL MEDIA ORGANIZATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS.

that the President would do, setting aside the different side of the story. Asking if the media is unfair, I think that it is somehow starting to be prejudiced since the President has started to threaten media organizations that he would close them down.

Miguel Raphael C. Peconcillo:

The mainstream news media in the Philippines is certainly home to the freest press in Asia but they certainly do not play favorites in the government. Filipino journalists are very balanced in their reporting. The way they angle stories may be different to another’s but that’s mostly to distinguish themselves from other brands and a way connect to their audiences. Supporters of the administration would claim these, but they tend to be partisan, hyper partisan in fact, and would rather view news favorable to the President. It’s also hard to claim unfairness if almost every media outlet is reporting the same thing.

Kathrina Mariel DJ Pelaez:

The media gravitates towards newsworthy stories; if you are a president who uses profane language during your speeches or if you are a president who goes about kissing women without their consent, do expect it on the front page. It is not unfair or irresponsible; it is the truth

after all. I think it is more problematic if the mainstream media does not have the capacity to produce content that challenges the administration, not because it is against it but because it is capable of siding with the truth rather than sugar- coating facts to please the administration and its supporters. It proves that the mainstream media is not a mere puppet of the government.

The duty of a journalist remains to be the same duty that they need to follow whatever occasion they may have to attend to, and that is to disseminate the truth, with 500 percent level of accuracy.

Mainstream media has been very blunt, and very direct in giving out information. It is the job of the media to broadcast what they think that the public should know. It must be noted that President Duterte is not just a normal Filipino citizen because he already declared his life as a public domain after signing the candidacy form for presidency and swearing in front of the Filipino people as the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Rudolf Kyle Peralta: Liezelle S. Roy:

No, they are only reporting facts based on the information they gathered and they would always have their evidences on the said issues. Duterte tries to shut down particular news

sites because it publishes articles against him. Also he use bad words to some of the news reporters, which is not the right attitude for a leader.

Rian Gabriella Sablan:

The Philippine media is only doing its job to serve the Filipinos; it is not its job to make the government look pretty for their service and commitment are to the people.

Mainstream media’s reporting is grounded on facts and statements from relevant people. Also, if not both sides are shown in one article, a follow-up will be written or reported about it to make sure that they show both sides of the story.

Nicole Sta. Clara: Samantha Abbygail Tio:

Unfairly, partly yes. The journalists are the ones who get to decide the angles of their news story, and how they intend the public to interpret the news reported. Irresponsibly, no. As journalists, it is our job to inform the public about every activity of the President, be it good or bad publicity. The President is the representative of the country as a whole, and whatever misconduct he or his administration acts upon, represents the Filipinos here and abroad. As the

forgets to act like one.

I see the allegations as attacks, not as constructive criticisms, to mainstream media. Once news outlets publish a story

Theresa Tañas:

against the Duterte administration, it is not surprising when one will see a comment on social media attacking the news media for being unfair and irresponsible. However, if you will read the article – a journalist often presents facts from the multiple viewpoints.

Julius M.

People often confuse fake news from news that merely criticizes the government, specifically, the

the allegations that the mainstream media has been unfairly and irresponsibly reporting about the Duterte administration because the mainstream media is merely quoting the statements that directly come from him, even providing context for the audiences to understand further what he means. However, it appears that no context is enough so save this country from its blind fanaticism.

Yanni Villavieja: Wingarts:

When the Duterte administration came to power, journalists were in total shock; they didn’t know whether to sit and report while Duterte spat on the works of journalists. Evidently, President Duterte is not like any other president because he also takes back his words calling it as merely jokes. Mainstream media, in my opinion, is only reporting what the administration is saying and doing.