SCUTTLEBUTT

Crass screening process

Officers of the Malacañang Press Corps submitted a position paper expressing their concerns about the new guidelines of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). If implemented, these guidelines would decimate half the reporter pool covering the President, triggering an unprecedented situation that would affect media coverage of the country’s most important person.

In this situation, the PCO would be more likely to consider “selecting” journos from private entities they prefer over staff of their own.

Ironically, once the policy is implemented, the first victims will be staff of its own state-run media, which is reorganizing its personnel and training new “messengers and witnesses to truth.”

Some of these new bearers of news have either just finished studying journalism or have just transferred and/or are beginning their tenure, or are halfway through their careers covering political beats, contrary to the PCO requirement of five years’ minimum experience.

It also won’t be able to find replacements due to a lack of manpower since they are reorganizing. Some of them are also under contract, a requirement the PCO highlighted in its guidelines.

The new policies would also affect online news organizations that have reporters who have not logged the five-year requirement, and new media entities that have veteran journalists, which, in another misfortune, are owned by the family of the second most powerful person in the line of presidential succession.

In its fight against misinformation, filtering the reporters covering the Palace through the new guidelines is being assailed for its arbitrary nature.

The Palace has been touting the Philippines’ rising press freedom ranking to 116 from 180, a significant development in 21 years. However, the inequitable measures it will implement are restrictive of an independent media.

PCO seeks to push envelope

The premier presidential communication arm has had its hands full strengthening its ranks, combating fake news, and fortifying its messaging worthy of its “Bagong Pilipinas” orientation.

The department’s chief recently declared fake news a “national security concern,” and urged law enforcement agencies to develop a framework that would compel social media platforms to combat misinformation.

Since his appointment, the department has explored establishing a regulatory body to oversee social media content and remove misleading posts. However, determining the veracity of content remains a challenge.

As major social media platforms shift to community-based fact-checking, relying on consensus rather than third-party verification, this approach is still in early testing in the United States and has not yet been implemented locally.

While combating fake news, the administration also promotes “feel-good news” to counter disinformation. However, these announcements often come with vague annotations and clarifications, leading to responses like “we’ll get back to you” or “I don’t have that information yet, but I’ll check” during press briefings. This can frustrate citizens awaiting concrete outcomes.

The opposition’s information campaign is outpacing the administration’s efforts, particularly as the elections approach. This complicates the efforts to defend the seat of power, dispel fake news and promote positive narratives.

The key debate at the center of power is whether to prioritize fighting fake news or promoting good news.