Media on the President
Despite his incorrupt image, President Benigno S. Aquino’s popularity rating is declining, according to the recent Social Weather Station survey. SWS noted that although the President garnered a “good” net rating of +46% in the June 3 – 6 poll, this is slightly below his “very good” net satisfaction rating of +51 percent in March 2011.
P-Noy tried to downplay the erosion of popular support saying he is “not really concerned with popularity.” Because he thinks the public mood is unpredictable, he will work “instead of just trying to look good.”
The President’s reactions are revealing in the sense that he seems averse to official functions that are high on visibility but low in results or impact like, well, distribution of relief goods. It must have taken a lot of convincing for him to do the rounds of evacuation centers in many places around Metro Manila last week because despite his personal feelings, he stuck with standard practice.
The nature of the President’s official activities, including one in Naga town today shows he is concerned about the double digit clip in his popularity. The question is, will the functions really enhance his image?
The President’s high visibility in the relief goods distribution was dutifully reported in text and photos. Basic commodities like food and water are virtual life lines. However, I don’t think relief distribution really serves a significant purpose except to government media that churns out news releases and cameramen of commercial broadcast networks who chase the President’s every move.
My point is, P-Noy could still have made his presence felt by sending his alter egos in the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Health, and Public Works to do the task for him. These activities are physically draining. The President needs to turn his attention to crafting policies that relate to the spike in prices of gasoline and the rise of criminal incidents, among other many pressing problems.
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I had the rare privilege of being invited last week to join the Jaime V. Ongpin journalism seminar under the auspices of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). The gathering held at the Asian of Institute and Management in Makati assembled media practitioners from all over the country to discuss the press’ coverage of the first year of the Aquino administration.
The forum likewise took note of the so-called “Arab spring,” and in the context of media’s role in the two bloodless People Power revolt, Philippine media’s message to the democratic struggles of peoples in the Arab world is rather important. In her address, Melinda Quintos de Jesus highlighted the campaign for democracy in Tunisia as the country prepares for its first democratic elections in 23 years.
This promdi media worker joined the JVOJS panel composed of Malou Mangahas of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Sandra Aguinaldo of GMA-7, Nestor P. Burgos of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Carlos H. Conde of The New York Times/International Herald Tribune, Jon Joaquin of the Mindanao Daily Mirror and Carolyn O. Arguillas of MindaNews.
As De Jesus, CMFR’s executive director pointed out, the panel was well represented in terms of gender and region, and also in terms of age range, if I may add. Sandra, Jon and Nestor look like they’re still in their 30s, while Carlos, Carolyn and Malou in their mid or late 40s. I gave away my age when I mentioned in my self-introduction that I married a political activist in the early 70s and we both landed in the military stockade when Martial Law was declared.
The panel was unanimous in saying that unlike the previous administration, President Aquino is accessible to the media and within reach to answer important questions. Ms. Mangahas opined that P-Noy’s availability stemmed from his honesty and integrity, although there was common observation that this administration seems content with making pronouncements instead of concrete policies. Many in the panel noted the lack of solid or purposeful follow through on specific issues, like the Freedom of Information Act.
I hope the AIM’s SGV Hall where the seminar was held was wired, so to speak, because it is important for the President to know media’s assessment of him and his administration, which I think is not all that bad or downright unfair.
Per my colleagues’ impression, the administration continues to be in a campaign or post election euphoria mode. This while the President deals with conflict situations within his own party, which is sapping his energy. For example, Mr. Conde said the appointment of three communications secretaries was not in response to a communication problem, but rather to placate warring forces from within.
Representatives of civil society groups, including journalism faculty and students from schools like Ateneo de Manila University, Centro Escolar University, Manila Times School of Journalism, St. Paul’s College and University of the Philippines also joined the seminar. The open forum that ensued reflected the students’ level of awareness about what’s going on in the Aquino administration.
