MALOLOS
CITY—The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) urged for
better working conditions of journalists and media workers in the country.
This
came as Rowena Paraan, presented a paper entitled “In defense of journalism and
media workers’ rights” at the recently concluded Philippine Press Institute
National Press Forum (PPI-NPF) held at the New World Hotel in Makati City.
The
said paper is directed not only to journalists, but to publishers and editors.
According
to Paraan, journalists and media workers especially those in the provinces are
underpaid and overworked.
“Many
of those working in community media – both in newspapers and radio stations –
have no idea that there is such a thing called minimum wage, or that the
minimum wage law is supposed to apply to them as well, not just to the factory
and office workers that are subjects of their news reports,” she said.
The
same journalists have also the “willingness to multi-task,” which is also
shared by reporters based in Metro Manila.
Paraan
said, “in Manila, many reporters not only have to write the news – real time,
mind you, for the online version and a longer piece for the primetime broadcast
or tomorrow’s print version.
They
also have to take photos and videos, and, yes, tweet. The latter is
‘encouraged’, meaning it is not required but if you fail to do it, it shows up
in your evaluation form. “
Going
to the provinces, Paraan vividly described the life of a journalist.
She
said, “in the provinces, the reporter is not just a reporter. He is also a
marketing person, sometimes, even the circulation staff. Sa praktika, anong
itsura nito? Pagkatapos mag-interview ng reporter tungkol sa kung anong palagay
ni mayor o ni negosyante tungkol sa anumang bagay para sa isusulat na balita,
magtatanong naman siya kung pwede maglagay si mayor o si negosyante ng ad sa
kanyang dyaryo o radyo.
Even
a freshman journalism student would know what is wrong with this picture (I
hope). Paano ka ngayon magsusulat o gagawa ng kritikal na balita o komentaryo
kung ang ipapakain mo sa anak mo ay nakasalalay sa mismong tao na minsan (o
madalas) ay kailangan mong batikusin?”
“And
how many journalists in the provinces are paid by community publications,”
Paraan asked.
“Sa
maraming sitwasyon, ang tanging kita ng reporter ay 10 hanggang 20 porsyentong
komisyon mula sa mga ads na nakukuha niya. In fact, I have heard several times
that it is convenient to have the reporters – or those whose bylines are
prominently displayed – to secure
advertising contracts.”
She
said that not too many journalists complain of the said condition, and stressed
that it leads to conflict of interest.
Then,
there are also those that work as correspondents and stringers for national and
international news organizations who usually earn more when disasters strike,
when fighting between rebels and government troops erupt and when crimes occur.
However,
Paraan said, “Oh wait. Not just any crime. There has to be five or 10 victims,
and the more gruesome the crime, the greater the chance of being published.
Because they are paid by the number and length of articles published, tragedies
are welcome in the sense that they are an opportunity to earn a few bucks.”
Paraan
said that there is nothing wrong with stringing for international organizations
like the Cable News Network (CNN), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Al
Jazeera, Financial Times, New York Times and other major networks.
But
in the Philippines, the practice is different.
She
said, “dito sa Pilipinas, tingnan natin paano ang karaniwang kalakaran.
Karaniwang sakop ng isang correspondent ang kanyang probinsya at mga katabing
probinsya. Kapag may nangyari, pinupuntahan niya agad, ginagawan ng istorya at
ipinapadala sa editor.
Gumagastos
sa pamasahe, cellphone load, pagkain at internet. Kung minsan ginagamit ng
kanyang dyaryo ang kanyang istorya, kung minsan hindi.
Kahit
pa ginastusan niya ito, walang kasigurahan na mailalabas o maibabalik sa kanya
ang ginastos. At kung lumabas man at mabayaran siya, ang kita madalas ay kulang
pa para mabawi ang lahat ng nagastos.”
She
noted, “Yes, correspondents are at the mercy of editors. Take note that there
is usually no contract between the correspondent and news organization. If
there is one, it often explicitly denies an employer-employee relationship.
Because having one means being entitled to all the benefits that a regular
worker should have.”
Paraan
said the sorry state of provincial news correspondents in the country lies in
the fact that except for “one newspaper whose correspondents are mostly
regulars, and one that has four or five, the rest have no correspondents with
regular employment status.”
Worst,
said correspondents even bring pasalubong to their editors when they come to
Manila.
She
also hit news organization’s demand for exclusivity of news from their
correspondents as unfair when there is no certainty that it will be published.
“It
is true not all stories can be accommodated due to space or airtime limitations
or the type of news may not be what the news organization needs. But at the
very least, he should be able to offer the unused or rejected stories to other
media houses. The demand to report exclusively for a news outlet precludes this
option,” she said.
According
to Paraan, newsroom policies “actually prime journalists to commit ethical
breaches.” Dino Balabo