EDITORIAL – The power of the press

The working press' celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week last week was a reminder to us in the media about one of the basics in our profession - that the press is powerful, that's why we have to make sure that that power is not abused.

The speakers in all of the forums held last week, most of whom are with the media or have close dealings with the media, reminded us that yes, the press is powerful, but people in the industry should know how to practice restraint. Those in media should learn to control the use of this power.

It was indeed a humbling experience to be told about our mistakes and shortcomings by media bigwigs and other people who are authorities in their field. The Philippine Star publisher Max Soliven did not bat an eyelash when he said the media is partly to blame for the crisis that is happening in the country.

Government Media Secretary Cerge Remonde bravely said that the media today is "driven by what is hot" and has gone away from the basics. Forensic expert Dr. Raquel Fortun asked photographers and police reporters straight in the face if they are "an asset or a liability." Malou Mangahas of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism said we in the media should not think that we are special because we are not special.

The words of our fellow journalists and some of our news sources were stinging and yet these were eye openers. Although we hate to admit it, it is true that there are people in media who are liabilities instead of assets to the craft. There are people in media who feel and act like they are special. And yes, we in the media are partly to blame for the crisis in the country. The list of media shortcomings goes on and on and we humbly admit that some of these are true. The different forums held last week in celebration of Press Freedom reminded us about all these shortcomings and mistakes.

Now, as we close the celebration, we in The Freeman hope that our fellow journalists and mediamen will take heed of the reminders we were given during our celebration of Press Freedom Week and start anew. We hope that being told of our mistakes and shortcomings would move our fellows in the industry to strive harder to correct the wrongs and continue to protect our power, the power of the press.