Media Corruption

Ocampo, in his 13 years of practice, told davaotoday.com that, early on in his career, he experienced being bribed.

He once served as a cameraman in another network due to lack of personnel. One day, he accompanied a senior reporter to interview a government official. While holding the camera, the senior reporter came near him and inserted something in Ocampo’s pocket. Ocampo didn’t check what it was until after the coverage and he was already at home: he found 500 peso bill inside his pocket.

The next morning, Ocampo approached the reporter and asked him if it was him who put the money in his pocket. The reporter nodded. Ocampo asked him why and the reporter merely said that it came from the public official, for snacks. “I asked him, Is that proper? And he replied, Nobody needs to know,” Ocampo said.

Ocampo thought about the incident for a while and felt guilty but he was too embarrassed to give the money back. Being a neophyte in the field, he ended up spending the money.

“At that point, I felt bad. It opened me to the reality that this is how it goes,” Ocampo explained. There were more attempts to bribe him but, according to him, he never gave in.

Not long afterward, the company where he was working closed down.

Like Ocampo, Francsico had the same experience as a young and innocent journalist. In his first few weeks covering a press conference in a government company, he experienced being handed with an envelope. He knew it was money because he saw on top of that bulk a 100 peso bill.

“The funny thing was, I returned it. I wondered why I was given when in fact I never needed it because my boss was paying me,” he said.

He confronted his editor and it was explained to him that the incident was indeed a practice. “It even became a joke among us, that if there is a press conference, there will be hand-outs,” Francisco told.

Although he could no longer remember what the bribe was for, he still remembered the person giving it. “He’s already dead but I don’t know if I earned his respect because after that he would keep his distance from me and he mentioned that to me before he died,” Francisco said.

Casalda, meanwhile, had experienced the same thing. Once, he wrote a story about corruption at a public high school. After his article was published, he received an invitation from the superintendent of that school. He eagerly went and upon entering the office, the official shouted at him, “How much are you worth?!” Casalda recalled being dumbfounded.

But he managed to regain his composure and replied, “I’m sorry, ma’am, I’m not for sale.” He then sensed that he was about to be bribed by the official but he was able to make the first move by refusing any offer.

Casalda said that, sometimes, he would receive gifts at the office, with thank you cards, but he had no idea why or where those came from. He would just think that he could have written something that pleased somebody. But he never hesitates to write about negative things about a certain company.

One time, an advertiser in the Mirror got mad because of a story and threatened to withdraw ad placements. “It was just a very good thing that our editorial department was separated from the marketing. I was called by my editor not to block the news but rather to tell me to get the side of the advertiser,” he said.

But Casalda later found that somebody had approached the advertiser and took a bribe in Casalda’s name.

Bribery and other forms of corruption also thrive during elections, Solis of RMN said.

A Matter of Principle

Some say it’s a matter of principle. Others say it’s credibility. These are the reasons why the four media practitioners resisted the temptation of “the envelope” in the course of their career.

Francisco said that he was lucky enough that after he started in 1992, he also wrote for outlets like United Press International, Today newspaper and wrote news for FM stations.

“I’m not saying that my income is big, but it is enough to keep me from any mischief in my work,” he said. He knew that economic reason is a factor, but he also said there are journalists who earn only a little yet manage to be straight in their practices.

Casalda shared the same view. “You are building your credibility for a long time and in just a wink of an eye, the respect will disappear,” he said. Casalda is also a licensed electrical engineer, which gives him extra income and which allows him to keep his name clean.

Before refusing a bribe, Casalda said, a journalist should try to explain his job. This way, he believes, those who offer bribe will not get insulted if the journalist refuses it.

Ocampo and Solis have a different view.

“We cannot blame those who accept bribes because it all boils down to economics,” Ocampo said.

Solis agreed. “How can you do your responsibilities if you yourself have needs. How can you write about people fighting for just wages when you yourself is a victim?”

Media Killings

Aside from economic difficulties and vulnerability to unethical practices, being a Filipino journalist these days has become a dangerous job.

Recently, GMA 5-Davao conducted a “Media Threats Awareness Seminar.” The staff learned about threats to media, surveillance, profiling a suspect and evasive actions, or preventive measures that would help them survive.

Ocampo said carrying a gun is not a solution, although he admits he owns one but he doesn’t carry it nor advocates arming the media. Still, he said , the best way is to report facts objectively.

Criticizing should also be done in proper perspective, and getting the other side is important, Solis said.

Media Situation in Davao

Solis said issues on economic conditions are a common concern by every media practitioner. In his 23 years in media, Solis has observed that only few media men are capable of surviving independently.

“Media practice here is rather dependent on who will sustain their livelihood,” Solis said. He added that some journalists have accepted the fact that clinging to some politicians or being the mouthpiece of a governor, mayor or congressmen makes their lives better economically.

Media companies should also ensure a more secured environment for journalists. The government can help in this regard, Solis explained, suggesting, for example, that before one can have a franchise for a station, the government should require the company to sign an agreement that it would give proper wages and job security to its employees.

Francisco suggested that the justice system must be improved, that killers of journalists should be put behind bars.

“The government should come up with a good system. No matter how good your paper is, or how strong your company is, there will always be someone who will kill you, because they thought they can easily escape the law,” Francisco said.

Professionalism among media practitioners is also a concern. Education and training, especially on ethical standards, is very much needed and should be taught not just to those who are already practicing but to journalism students as well, Francisco said.

Networks, they said, should stop their “ratings war” and focus instead on quality reporting.

In the end, with the myriad of issues confronting journalists – poverty, perils at work, unethical practice – the four journalists agreed that the only way to protect their ranks from all sorts of threats would be to unite.

“Once we are one, we cannot be easily shaken. We cannot depend on the government, much more on others, therefore we should strive from within our own ranks,” Ocampo said.

Solis agreed with Ocampo. “It will not be that easy because we will be up against big capitalists. But if the media here in Davao is united, time will come when only the station owner is left to broadcast from sun up to sun down — until he gives what is due his employees.” (Grace S. Uddin/davaotoday.com/Posted by Bulatlat)