What to do about Bad Media? Boycott! part 2

Rather than boycott the TV shows (also radio programs) themselves (which they wouldn't know and would not affect them anyway), I suggest the advertisers be the subject of the boycott. And in order to start a boycott of the advertisers, I suggest that there are some steps that may be done:

1. Agree which TV programs are bad.
2. Identify which are the most ardent advertiser/s in that program.
3. Threaten the advertiser/s with the boycott.
4. If the advertiser did not pull-out their ads within a week, then proceed with a boycott of the said advertiser.

Easy? Hell, no!

First, how can everyone agree on which TV programs are bad? Who will set the criteria, and how could that person be believed? Next, how can you threaten a big company with a boycott when you do not have throngs of people behind you? And then, how can you proceed with a boycott, when only a handful knows that there is such a call?

I learned that there was a boycott of some companies, when Ninoy Aquino got killed and during the move to oust a dictator in 1983 to 1986. It was a boycott of Marcos crony companies, among them the Security Bank. It was a successful boycott, the bank almost collapsed (they said), but the boycott was led by personalities of the time (i.e. Cory Aquino). Unfortunately, I am sure that the big personalities will not support any similar movement at this time.

Clearly, a boycott movement is very much akin to a People Power movement, and should be its natural extension. It is almost impossible to get it going, but once started could oust dictators, if not move mountains. In 1986, People Power was aroused by a radio station, the radio veritas and later the radio bandido. In 2001, People Power was spread through the use of mobile phone texting. Now, can it be started by a blog?

What to do about Bad Media? Boycott!

I took note that it is not only us who hate what our local TV has turned into. Roy Cimagala, in his column (Vigilance) at the Philippine Daily Inquirer today, blasted the "low state" of the TV shows, and suggested vigilance against them.

Mr. Cimagala suggested the following actions:

1. Monitor shows closely
2. Campaign against bad shows/liase with TV executives, stars and advertisers
3. Boycott particular shows and their advertisers
4. Write letters to editors, make phone calls to radio stations, bombard them with text messages

I analyzed each suggestions closely and realized that not everyone can do everything or some of them. For example, how can one monitor the shows when one is at work? How can one liase with TV execs, stars, advertisers when one do not know and never had the chance to get even near them? How can one write to editors, even make phone calls or make text messages when one does not know how to write, and doesn't have the means or time to make a call or send a text message?

But everyone, we realize, can participate in a boycott!

However, to be effective, a boycott must be felt. That means a significant number of people must participate. But who could say which TV programs and corresponding advertisers to boycott when almost all of the programs are in a sorry state? Wouldn't we end up boycotting all of them, thereby also isolating us and the boycott movement to its own detriment? And would people participate if we end up telling everyone to boycott all the shows on TV and all the advertised products?

So, the question now is, how can we start a boycott and make it effective?

An Insult to the Paper!

Do you have some news? A really really important news? A really really big news that deserve a headline? Well, you can only get it on the newspaper by buying ad space. Yes, you read me right, by buying ad space.

This is what the Consumer and Oil PRice Watch is doing, buy ad space for their important news. The other day, they announced in an advertisement that not only will their group monitor the oil price, they will also monitor the power situation and PPAs, the Transco deal, the MWSS/Maynilad situation, the shipping rates affected by the Marina fees, the tollways rates, and the LRT/MRT rates. Let me see now... don't they just need to call for a press conference? Do they really need to have it advertised, to make sure they get printed?

This is also what Mr. Antonio Calipio Go of Marian School is doing. Also the other day, he had an advertisement on his appeal to government to correct the text book errors. He appealed for a textbook policy, improvements on the student's access to textbooks, its procurement process, evaluation process, and some legislation all to improve education. Dont' the press just need to print the story, even to headline it, rather than an individual buying ad space?

Didn't the newspaper get insulted here? Don't this blatantly prove that the newspapers do not do their jobs.

Well, who knows. Maybe this is indeed the way they do it. Maybe the headlines are paid ads too, only that we do not know it!

Exposes that don't help 3

The other day, the Inquirer bannered a story on Sen Mirriam Santiago's supposed expose on the "Gang of 12" in the military. It supposedly exposes the inner workings of the corrupt operation of the top military officers, corruption involving the chief of staff and J1 to J11. I said "supposedly", because the expose suffers from an utter lack of substance!

Amazingly, Sen. Santiago detailed the corruption process, but did not say who her source was nor did she offer any documents or evidence to prove it. Not even a glint of proof is offered! And this kind of news deserved a Philippine Daily Inquirer headline? Hey now, everyone can do such an allegation. Hello? Even a retard like me can mimick the good senator. Will I merit a headline too?

Yesterday, the Inquirer did it again, by headlining the continuation of the senator's expose. This time, involving the wives of the "Gang of 12". And seemingly not yet content on what damage these kinds of news could do to the country, the paper also prints a repeat of the other day's story on an inner page! Of course, we can only expect more of the same rehash story today, again, and again.

I had the chance to compare how the Manila Bulletin treated the story. While the PDI had on its headline: "Senator Santiago exposes AFP 'Gang of 12' Details graft in staff commands", the Manila Bulletin had the same story as: "Mirriam claims 2B lost yearly in conversion" at the Nation section of the paper (not the headline, and not on page1). One difference is the word "claim". The MB had it with a grain of salt. The PDI had it as if they've uncovered something spectacular! The MB printed it as it could be, a side story. The PDI just turned their paper into a circus... headline... headline... Man eating live chicken!!... and that kind of stuff. Hmm, and the PDI now is the number 1 paper?

No wonder why the country is not moving forward. Sadly, I do not doubt where we are headed.

Exposes that don't help 2

Now, to follow on their yesterday's expose on the AFPs golden parachute, the Inquirer prints some denials quoted from former chief of staff and retired generals Dionisio Santiago, Diomedio Villanueva, and Benjamin Defensor, as well as from AFP Communications Director Silvestre Afable.

Of course, they would deny it. Their denial is no news.

By publishing the denial, the Inquirer is trying to show that it is maintaining some sense of balance in their news, getting the perpective from all sides. Yeah, yeah, just like after throwing mud at your face, they then give you equal time to speak!

With the kind of shallow report the Inquirer had on the issue, the generals should have been advised not to speak out. They should not have given justice to the issue.

I am not saying that the generals are free from corruption. What I am saying is that exposes such as this don't help.

Exposes that don't help

Everyday, we see exposes on news about graft and corruption in government. Often, this exposes are from unnamed sources. These kinds of reports surely excites us, the reader. We naturally would want to read an 'insider' news that let us in on corrupt practices in government institutions. We want to be in on scoops and juicy stories detailing corruption.

Unfortunately, the story itself do not live up to the hype of the headline. Often it becomes apparent that the unnamed source is not really in on the story. All we see are quotes from the unnamed source, who unfortunately did not have the information first hand. Instead we are led to an information from an unnamed source which information he supposedly got from another source, whose information was from the sister of the father of the brother of the friend of someone in the know!

One such story is bannered by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (AFPs Golden Parachute) today. Take a moment to read and you will see that the unnamed source apparently does not have first hand information. Although we suspect this kind of information long ago, the news is merely based on hearsay, at best.

Another story bannered by the PDI is regarding Sec. Angie Reyes cock farm. The story came even from named sources. It was amazing that the writer was able to get this story as it apparently came from nowhere. However, it is more amazing to see that the writer did not do his job. Obviously, he was fed the story. Because the next day, there is another story that clarifies the first one and let Sec. Reyes basically off the hook. It turns out that the secretary owns the property (and properly stated in his SAL), but the cocks belong to someone else. After insinuating that Sec. Reyes has undeclared properties, it is as if the news is just a regular piece, and went on even without a hint of apology. These when we are at the center of supposed military instability (coup rumors).

Stories such as this do not help the country. In fact, it worsens the situation. It is important to understand that these kinds of news, in fact, muddle the information and keep the people in the dark. We are made to chase on the wrong targets, while the real perpetrators go on with their corrupt activities. I believe the writers and sources of these news are in on what is going on, yet are not reporting the right news. I suspect that they intentionally muddle the story, as a diversion for something, possibly another corrupt activity.

Although we welcome exposes that has the potential to clean the government, we are sick and tired of hearing allegations without basis that divert the attention of the people from the truth.

Impending Coup D'etat

Everyday, there are news about corruption in the military. Gen. Carlos Garcia is now as notorious as can be. Even the AFP's top brass are not exempted. It was said that retiring chief of staffs have at least P300M 'pabaon', meaning they have money for their personal use before they retire. The other day, Sec. Angie Reyes' cock farm was the subject.

And everytime there are these kinds of news, commentators on radio, and even the article itself, says or implies that these are happening 'amidst' coup rumors.

It is a given, that corruption is indeed one major problem we have in our country. It is one reason why the country cannot stand up and be among the developing nations. Also, the threat of coup d'etat is a major problem. But to create fear among the people, through extending the news and rumor monger, in general, and especially among the business community, is another issue. I must say, that rumor mongering in itself is also one major problem that we face. Surely, rumor mongering by learned and educated individuals, specifically by media outfits, that there is an impending coup, is itself meshed within the corruption web.

Everyone should abhor corruption. Everyone should also abhor rumor mongering. Corruption and rumor mongering are one and together, both keeping our country down, and sucking the blood out of the helpless poor bit by bit.

Peso - Dollar Exchange rates

The peso - dollar rate remains unchanged.

Is that all? Yehey! We are happy!

Now the bad news, which goes unreported in the local press but reported from CNN-Money:

The dollar fell nearing its eight-month lows against the Euro. It also fell against the yen.

Hu.. hu.. hu...

Now the question: Why is the local press not very much intent on covering closely the local economy when there lies one of our major problems? Is it beyond their mental capabilities?

Just asking.

Major RP fiber optic backbone suffers outage

Woooo.... this is scary. A major fiberoptic backbone in RP suffers outage and causes are unknown. Are we under some form of attack?

The inq7 report says that Globe Telecoms and Digital Telecoms' internet service (is this Digitel?) are affected. The report says that only PLDT is not connected to this backbone.

Wooo... this is more scary!

Yesterday, there were abrupt slow downs in the internet service by INFOCOM, a company connected with PLDT. Also, it seems that the internet cafe NETOPIA internet system was out from about 3PM onwards. I know and it has been advertised that Netopia is connected with PLDT. And the news report says that PLDT is not connected to that backbone?


Woooo... the press does not know what is actually happening... as usual...!

Woooo... scary!

On FilShams

Asi Taulava has been playing basketball in the PBA years ago, as a Filipino. Then it was said that he is not a Filipino, then ejected from the league. Then, recently, for whatever reasons, he began playing again. And then now, he was declared as not a Filipino again. And then he somehow got a judicial court to support him and avoid getting deported. But then, the PBA commissioners suspended him. And now he filed a case against the commissioners. It could be interesting how all these will turn out.

And there are at least 5 other so called FilShams also recommended deported by the DOJ.

Hmmm. Where are the sports media in all of these? Turning themselves in again as mere expectators, just like the rest of us? Hmmm.

Are the FilShams really shams or do they have even a drop of Filipino blood? Amazing that up to now we do not really know the answer to that question! And if these FilShams are not Pinoys, what the hell are they doing playing as Pinoys? If they are indeed 'shams', then why the heck can they not be deported at once (or at least the process starts at once, and not merely recommended by the DOJ)? If aliens should be deported back to their countries, whose job is it to make it happen?

The fact is the people is not well informed. The fact is basketball profits from all of us gullible enough to believe that we can be happy and proud watching talented 'supposedly' Pinoy players. The fact is basketball is now turned into plain showbusiness and not a sport. The fact is Philippine basketball is now in its lowest quality, even compared only among some asian teams that we used to beat. The fact is that Filipino basketball will die a natural death if it goes on like this.

If issues such as on basketball cannot be handled by our media properly, then what else can they handle?

Hello? Press People? Anybody home?

GMA orders court marshall for Gen. Garcia?

There is something wrong with this news report. It lacks the information that could make it qualify as news rather than gossip.

It quotes President Arroyo without mentioning the circumstance from which the quote was taken. Is it from a speech at a business club, or is she addressing the military, or is she talking in private with Sec. Bunye, or is it during a press conference, or is she telling the generals bluntly what they should do? We don't and wouldn't know, although that is the main theme of the report!

What we know is that GMA should not be giving out such orders or comments in public. With her comments, the military is put in an embarrasing situation. Is there not a protocol within the military on how to deal with this kind of controversy? Can they not initiate a court marshall on their own? Do they need the President to tell them that?

At worst, the press is not asking the right questions. At best, they did ask the right questions but are not reporting the answers.

Where is KaBlog?

I am sure I am not a jinx, but what can you say starting a blog and then having it closed in a few days?

Well that is what happened to my mblog blogging account. Closed!

Apparently, mblog cannot anymore continue giving the service for free. So they are closing everything. And asking for money (US$35) if you want your archives retrieved. I feel sorry for mblog, and for the bloggers that dwelt there. Well, good things do not last forever. True. They got replace by another good thing!

So where is KaBlog? It is now here at blogger, reincarnated.

Now I wonder how long blogger would last!

Where is the so called "Free Press"?

The Philippines is said to have one of the freest press in the world. And to that I disagree.

If it is free, then how come the people are not well informed? If it is free, then why are the likes of Joseph Estrada and Fernando Poe Jr. and even the Marcoses (and yes, even Kris Aquino) still able to muster some popular support from the people, rather than be embarassed and disgraced?

If it is free, why are there no actual political controversies resolved? Have you seen the end of the Kuratong Baleleng controversy involving the then top cop and then presidential contender Ping Lacson? What happened to the supposed corruption by the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and the other Gentleman Nani Perez? What happened to the text book scam? the Macapagal Blvd. scam? the Pampanga Dikes scam? the PEA-Amari deal? the NAIA terminal controversy? even the recent Escort Ladies issue?

Whew, I tell everyone, nothing in the Philippine press gets resolved. They are one in staging a grand show for the people, not even a nice one at that. When I say 'they', I mean all of them! I read the leading papers, the leading radio stations (AM and FM), the leading TV channels. They are giving us so called 'news' that sizzles, often rehashed if not entirely made up, in order to sell advertisements, but not to give us information.

And not just even on news, but also on shows. Have you watched the local TV programming lately? Didn't you notice that the noontime shows everyday are not shows but are advertisements within the show? And how about the reality shows, didn't you notice that they are mere promotions and venue for introduction of new actors and actresses?

Let us say there is one good politician out there who is trying to do right his/her job? Would you believe that that politician will be covered by the press, if he/she does not pay for press time? I do not think so.

Something must be done about this. That is why this blog exists. Maybe, just maybe, by exposing here what they (the press) do or don't do, someone else might know what is there to be done to better the situation, better than what I do here.