the problem with politics and media

"It is harder to change public opinion in democracies than it is to change policies in totalitarian countries."

(Joseph Nye, 2007)

the press, we should be honest, has shaped our minds about the opinion we have of our world. i have always wanted to become part of a broadcasting company. how many times have i said that? it has been one of these dreams that i have that since i have come to study politics, i may at least be able to talk sensibly about it and interpret it in a way how the media should deliver it. honest and balanced.

the walkout by (Sen) Trillanes, et al has been the hoolabaloo in media since its inception. and when i say inception, i mean as it shocked them. as i was talking to my mom, she told me about the news flash. i logged on to my usual Philippine news site, and saw the clip of a news flash. the ABS-CBN news report by Ces Drilon expressed her shock to this walkout and that she cites that this looks like that it has planned way ahead as they (Trillanes and group) were ready with their actions. however in the re-airing of Bandila over at TFC, there was like a different tone to this report. since on this reporting, the perpetrators have been put into custody again, and it also happened that the media men (and women) who followed the movements of the Magdalo, were detained for an hour (or two) for being there. though it is a shock that the media were given such treatment, it is, in some sense understandable sometimes to do that. why? because there are too many media personalities who were there INSIDE the hotel that anyone can go pretend to be part of the media and get away from the authorities.

though actually, that is not really my point.

the point is the influence of media can sway the wrong to right, the hazy to clear, and people form their opinions on how the media views it. they were affected by the tear gas the Special Forces Unit set off at the Peninsula lobby, they showed marine tanks forcing its way thru the Peninsula entrance, police officers shooting upward (to one of the floors) from the outside (though it appears that no one was shooting at them). everyone who watches this will say that all these movements by the police are too much. it is such an overkill. yet no one reminded us, the viewers, that the "supporters" of the Trillanes group are their ARMED guards who were supposedly guarding them if there is any move that they do (yet of course they got sucked into the sweet talking). no one told us that guests of the Peninsula, even before the police evacuated them, were fearful of their lives, as they saw that these unusual hotel guests have guns such as M-16's and armalite's on their hands while visiting the hotel. these hotel guests also paved their way to the restaurant area to have their press conference which the media/press gladly covered. these were some things that we missed out from our news reports, and this is what our press calls balanced and honest? and this is why they raised their hands when they were cuffed with white bands that looked like the white bands my tita uses to put together her decorations and lights when you have to hang it to something. these "cuffs" that looked like those that i can cut off using the big scissors we put inside the kitchen. these cuffs that the media men raised and in which they cried for "Freedom of the Press." i do not know what to say about it.

i am not defending the government. to say it subtle-y, i have been critically mindful of their actions. i have this hatred for destabilizers, and such a person as someone who is, unfortunately elected into public office, is being glorified for this move that is meant to sign him into stardom (or maybe a hero status) yet how do we make heroes? how do we create our superman? i must say that it is not thru the image build-up by our current/mainstream media. mainstream media has proven itself to be mindful of their public image than their purpose in shaping our society.

[Edit: to add i quote me for what i said in a comment to a friend's blog post

"Freedom of the Press is an overused term. it is inevitable, yet we crave for its real sense."]