Media group deplores termination of 60 CNN Philippines workers

A media advocacy group lamented the reported termination of around 60 employees of CNN Philippines due to “right-sizing.”

In a post on its blog on Thursday night, Buhay Media revealed that it received information that around 60 employees from the news and current affairs production were served termination papers.

“We stand with our colleagues at CNN Philippines as they join countless of other media workers who have been deprived of job security despite their years of service,” they said.

According to Buhay Media, among the terminated employees were producers, graphic artists, video editors and cameramen, as well as staff from IT, engineering, technical operations and creatives.

It may be recalled that in September 2015, CNN Philippines also laid off around 70 staffers and contractual employees as part of its manpower adjustment efforts.

The entry of CNN Philippines – formerly 9TV and Solar News Channel – was announced the year before, through a partnership with the Nine Media Group.

It was launched in March 2015 on free-to-air television and aimed to compete with larger players like ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5.

In its statement, Buhay Media urged media stakeholders and lawmakers to address the contractual workers system, the absence or lack of benefits and security of tenure, and weak union systems.

The media advocacy group also cited previous illegal dismissals of contractual workers in GMA 7, ABS-CBN and TV5, as well as veteran journalists from PTV 4 who were also recently terminated.

Buhay Media pointed out that the media also face threats from the government, with newsmen and women harassed for doing their jobs in search of truth.

“At a time where fake news is rampant, and the call for accountability and truth is ever so crucial, we must fiercely support our news institutions so they may not crumble when they are needed the most,” it said.

Buhay Media added: “That support begins and ends with protecting the welfare of the workers who risk their lives every day doing this job.”