Didn't like it

The audacity of a high-ranking official to say that the quality of journalism in the Philippines isn't good and that social media is better. Vice President Sara Duterte made this public statement while she was at The Hague. She referred to Philippine journalism as being far behind international media in terms of how news is presented and how information is sourced. It even came to the point of making a baseless accusation that the media prioritizes financial interests over truth. I, for one, didn't like it.

This pretty much hurts the many individuals who tirelessly work to ensure that the public receives the information it rightfully deserves. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines did not take it lightly either. In a statement, the union said that the Vice President was "unleashing one of the tactics straight out of a dictator's playbook." This is, of course, a way of demonizing the press while glorifying social media because it is easier to control the narrative there.

Of course, her supporters will back everything she says. They would even make moves to boycott legitimate media because they believe they have already had enough. The audience now only want to watch and listen to what they already believe is true, even if that means consuming misinformation spread through coordinated efforts that often point back to the same groups trying to destroy the credibility of hardworking journalists. The classic move is to refuse interviews and instead choose only the outlets that will carry the message they want, ensuring consistency in the narrative they wish to project while avoiding difficult questions.

Many simply can't take the grain of salt rubbed into the wound by journalists because reporters work twice as hard to find out, verify, and discover the truth. They ask the hard questions, even if it means being publicly shamed, criticized, or called out. Yes, mistakes happen, and that is true. However, a legitimate news organization is quick to correct errors and ensure they are not repeated. That is part of accountability. That is part of journalism.

We are all protected by freedom of the press, just as her statement is protected by freedom of speech. But having the freedom to speak does not excuse anyone from speaking responsibly. I'd say it is wiser to think before making sweeping statements against an entire profession. If the "Pax Silica" incident offended her, why blame the messengers? Journalists did not invent the issue; they reported on it because it was newsworthy. I think reading more about current events would help, as would having a competent public relations team that can better prepare her to answer difficult questions instead of attacking those who ask them.

In the end, it is still the press's duty to cover her because she remains the country's second-highest-ranking official. Those who fail to live up to journalistic standards may simply be disguising themselves as legitimate news organizations. That is the real challenge today: distinguishing what is real from what is fake.