Authoritarian Controls and News Media in the

PhilippinesBy Joel Dresang

Short Background on Philippine Media• Law of Philippine media was modelled after the

constitutional provisions of the American Colonialists.• In 1960’s Philippine Government was enacting to

protect journalists and their sources of information.• In 1966 a study by Ralph L. Lowenstein classified the

Philippine media among the most free in the world.•Around 1970’s, Philippine media was one of the freest

in the world.

•Media in the Philippines was free wheeling in early 1970’s according to Hernando Gonzales.•Advantage: Media is a catalyst in the growth and

development of the Philippines. •Disadvantage: A lot of publications are exaggerated

especially in the reports of crimes and official improprieties (1970’s worsening economic conditions).

Media Under Martial Law•1971 – According to Marcos, the media is non-objective. • September 20, 1972 Chino Lagman said that the ambush of

Philippine Defence Minister was a staged event. • September 21, 1972 – Marcos declared Martial Law and

resulted to the close down of print and broadcast facilities in the Philippines. •Manila Times, published by Joaquin P. Roces, was shut down.• Journalists at this time are now hesitant to write articles

because of the circumstance.

•Martial Law government made a communications vacuum where only Pro-Marcos newspaper are allowed. •Chosen communications and broadcast facilities were the

only one allowed to operate. •Marcos then gained control of the content of the Philippine

Media. • Late 1974, the council that controls the media was

dismantled but there was a new order to the journalists.

• The media became more passive.• In January 1981, Marcos then lifted Martial law but

authoritarian controls had been lifted only in name.

•“The lack of press freedom has made many of us, who have worked all these years under martial law, tend to censor ourselves automatically.” – Antonio Nieva.

•December 1982, WE Forum (press) was stopped due to the questioning of the most decorated veteran of World War II (Marcos).• February 1983, first Philippine press strike was upheld

– it was leaded by Antonio Nieva. After a few months, he was arrested due to destabilizing the government. •March 1983, International Press Institute noted that

the press controls were liberalized.

•None of the journalists, who got caught, were convicted according to Chibu Lagman• Journalists learned how to write in symbols because

they cannot explicitly write the hard facts for how many years.

•August 1983, media now is slowly getting back on track, but not on major newspapers and televisions. •August 21, Ninoy Aquino was assassinated. Different news

were released. • Enrique Zobel had no respect for the Philippine Media

because they might just have been bribed. •Vicente Jayme, a business leader, pressured the established

media companies.

•Within a few months of the Aquino Assassination, ten new non-establishment newspapers joined Malaya in the Philippine media market•Veritas Weekly was formed.

• In October 1983, Philippine Times was closed because of publishing a series of articles blaming the soldiers for the assassination of the Ninoy. •According to Doeppers, newspapers do tend to expand when people extraordinarily needs for news.