16 hours ago: Compelling questions from “On the Spot” Teleradyo anchors Tony Velasquez, Danny Buenafe (Executive Producer Charlie Navartey, producer Pamela Munji), video below
Topics discussed in the interview:
1.Free expression of views: On religious leaders expressing views versus commanding a specific vote:
On religious leaders expressing views (allowed), criteria for evaluating programs and candidates (allowed), endorsing but not requiring members to vote specifically for particular candidates (allowed), command voting by any corporation or organization including religious ones, which is committed when the head or leader “coerces or intimidates or compels, or in any manner influence, directly or indirectly” to vote for a particular candidate is PROHIBITED.
Here’s the provision:
Omnibus Election Code – Article XXII
Sec. 261. Prohibited Acts under Election Offenses
D. Coercion of subordinates.
Any public officer, or any officer of any public or private corporation or association, or any head, superior, or administrator of any religious organization, or any employer or land-owner who coerces or intimidates or compels, or in any manner influence, directly or indirectly, any of his subordinates or members or parishioners or employees or house helpers, tenants, overseers, farm helpers, tillers, or lease holders to aid, campaign or vote for or against any candidate or any aspirant for the nomination or selection of candidates.
Any public officer or any officer of any commercial, industrial, agricultural, economic or social enterprise or public or private corporation or association, or any head, superior or administrator of any religious organization, or any employer or landowner who dismisses or threatens to dismiss, punishes or threatens to punish be reducing his salary, wage or compensation, or by demotion, transfer, suspension, separation, excommunication, ejectment, or causing him annoyance in the performance of his job or in his membership, any subordinate member or affiliate, parishioner, employee or house helper, tenant, overseer, farm helper, tiller, or lease holder, for disobeying or not complying with any of the acts ordered by the former to aid, campaign or vote for or against any candidate, or any aspirant for the nomination or selection of candidates
2.Allegations that a media organization has secret endorsements of candidates:
Discussion: In media studies or journalism studies, bias can only be concluded if it is based on data and not mere rumors. Students are required to make a content-analysis of news reports to find out whether the news organization observed balance (getting all sides of the story), factuality, accuracy, and contextuality. In the same manner, media critics and watchdog organizations review news articles to find out whether or not the principles of journalism were observed by the news organization.
An allegation without basis is a mere innuendo based on idle gossip meant to distract us.
And as first-hand information: Sometimes I interview students who choose to do their internship work in various news organizations including ABS-CBN. In answer to my question of whether or not the owners of the company dictate the content or try to influence the reporting, they inform me that the owners of the company never visit the news room at all, let alone look over their shoulders. The news room is where the story conferences are held to prepare the day’s lineup of news reports.
(in the video below, when I say management and owners, I refer to those who own and manage the corporation or who own the controlling shares of the company)
(Video below produced by ABS-CBN, used here non-commercially for academic purposes)
marichulambino.com 