News
News from the Field: Media,
democracy and development: Breaking new ground in journalism landscape
in the Philippines
24 August 2007
In March 2007, as the Philippines prepared for the May
mid-term elections, violence against activists and journalists unfortunately
began to escalate. In this particular and disturbing context, the Centre
for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD) organized a meeting
to discuss an initiative entitled "Media, Democracy and Development."
A non-profit, non-government media organization acting as a facility
for journalists working with citizens and communities for social change,
the CCJD, together with several other Philippine media development and
news organizations, met to discuss a framework for media reform that
would contribute to the country's development and move forward the development
of a free and responsible press that promotes democracy and development.
Although the media in the Philippines is considered to enjoy a relatively
high degree of freedom compared to other countries in the region, the
country's news media still face enormous difficulties such as ethical,
press freedom and security challenges. Therefore, it poses a huge challenge
for the Philippine media to ensure the continued promotion of democracy
in the field of media, press and journalism.
To tackle this formidable challenge, Mr. Red Batario, Executive Director
of the CCJD says that "media reform efforts should start from the
ranks of the press; and only a free, responsible, and engaged press
can effectively contribute to governance reforms, which in turn will
further strengthen our democratic processes and enhance the country's
development."
Other media development organizations such as the Center for Media Freedom
and Responsibility, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism,
and Philippine Trust - Newsbreak support Mr. Batario's view that the
Philippines news media, while playing a very important role in society,
also must look inward and work seriously and committed towards continued
professional development.
Dr. Buendia, Assistant Resident Representative at the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), the executing agency of this project,
also shares the view that the challenge to the country's media is the
crass commercialization of the news and an unbridled competition, which
has bred sensationalist reporting. He also cited comments from the UNDP
Resident Representative that development issues should be viewed not
only from the media perspective but also from an institutional viewpoint
i.e. how organizations could actively participate and how a sound and
healthy environment could be created in which news media organizations
could operate fully and freely.
On March 21, 2007, with a grant from the United Nations Democracy Fund,
UNDP and CCJD were able to organize the first meeting with major media
partners, including the above mentioned organizations, to discuss strategies
for promoting the media reform efforts through the Media, Democracy
and Development project. Seventeen participants, including 14 women,
actively exchanged views and opinions on matters relating to a Philippine
media reform, democracy and development. As an outcome of the meeting
a Memorandum of Agreements between the Implementing Partner and each
of the Responsible Parties was signed.
Under this Agreement, both parties agree to undertake media related
initiatives and activities that will contribute to converging strategies
that will benefit the institutional, organizational, and individual
capacity development within media organization, and thereby, benefit
the Philippine society as a whole.
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