(We yield this space to the open letter of the Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan to the media due to its timeliness. – Ed.)
WE EXPRESS grave concern at the exclusion of non-mainstream presidential candidates from recent interviews hosted by high-profile media outlets. It is the duty of media organizations to accord these candidates the same opportunity to reach the public as those of mainstream candidates, regardless of their standing in electoral polling or the capacity of their campaigns.
We recognize the wide reach of mainstream media outlets. For many Filipinos, mainstream media is their best or only option for news and information. From typhoon coverage to national elections, media institutions bear the duty of relaying important information to the general public. The broad reach of media outlets comes with the responsibility of ensuring fair and truthful news and information for their audiences.
Since the start of the campaign season, we have observed big media outlets’ regular snubbing and omission of non-mainstream candidates, such as Ka Leody de Guzman, in bigger features. This has culminated in recent election interviews and debates solely featuring mainstream candidates – candidates who are also elite, already well-known, and with plenty of resources.
We call on media organizations to exercise their responsibility of providing fair, truthful, and complete information to their audiences, particularly for this election. Specifically, we call for mainstream media to include all presidential, vice presidential, and senatorial candidates in interviews, debates, and other election releases. When news outlets present only a select few candidates, they push the idea that these are the only candidates who matter. By limiting the available information to voters, their choices are also limited. Voters are less likely to be familiar with non-mainstream candidates and their platforms, because these candidates also happen to be the ones with less funding, means, and resources than would be necessary to ensure a universal reach. The result of the non-inclusion of these other candidates is an uneven playing field.
News and media outlets play a crucial role in elections. Their broad reach allows them the chance of improving a candidate’s chances with visibility and engagement. We see and have seen this happening with this election season–and it isn’t right.
The impact of media outlets cannot be ignored; therefore, to have free and fair elections, it is imperative for mainstream media to present truthful and complete information. If not, the upcoming elections will be the same as every other election preceding it: a competition between elites. Filipinos deserve more than the same breed of elite candidates every turn of elections. We can uphold that by ensuring a fairer and more even playing field, and for that to happen we need the active participation of our media institutions.
