Mindanao journos urge action
on safety, welfare, ethics woes

A FORTNIGHT ago, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) conducted the third and final leg of its island-wide seminar series on media killings and the culture of impunity. Twenty senior reporters, editors, program managers, and news producers from various cities and provinces in Mindanao attended the seminar held in Davao City on May 16-19, 2012.

For two years now, the PCIJ has conducted the seminar series “Maguindanao and Beyond: Media Murders and the Quest for Justice” with the support from the US foundation National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

This year, the seminars sought to scale up and consolidate community consensus and joint action by media frontliners and gatekeepers on common concerns that confront journalists who cover the killings, as well as on measures and best practices that media gatekeepers could implement to assure adequate protection for journalists at risk.

As the journalists from Luzon and the Visayas did, the journalists from Mindanao crafted a resolution on possible guidelines and areas for reform that media agencies might consider to address these issues.

Resolution on Professional Standards, Ethics, Safety, and Welfare Conditions of Journalists in Mindanao

We, journalists and gatekeepers from print, TV, radio, and online media agencies in Mindanao, recognizing pressing professional, ethical, welfare, and safety concerns, resolve to work for the following reforms in our newsrooms and in our respective communities in the next three years:

On how we do our work as journalists:

1. Do good journalism and exert best effort for every story. Do not compromise quality for volume of stories (i.e., strive to get all sides at all times, shun sloppy work, and refrain from thinking about journalism as a simple matter of meeting story quotas).
2. Do not just cover events. Strive to put stories in context, dig deeper, and exert extra effort to explain and clarify policy issues.
3. We are concerned that national media and regional media centers have a skewed perspective of the situation in rural areas; they do not reflect the real situation in the countryside such that Mindanao is portrayed in media as largely an area of conflict. We will thus strive to report on progress in Mindanao, not only on the conflict situations in the region.
4. Good journalism is public service in itself. It is good for the media to do public and community service, but journalists and the media should not project themselves as a substitute or alternative for the work and services that the government, the courts, and the police are sworn in law to deliver.
5. Avoid exaggerating problems and issues. Aspire to also look at areas of progress and possible solutions to be able to give a balanced picture of the situation.
6. Foster teamwork and accord a bigger voice and a decisive role for journalists in the regions and at the frontlines, especially when covering regional issues and events.
7. Encourage and launch integrated training seminars on journalism, ethics, and safety to include moral and spiritual values, work attitude and interpersonal relationship to strengthen sound human relations among media practitioners. These should be organized and conducted within our media agencies and in partnership with other media agencies and independent media organizations.

On journalism ethics:

1. Uphold self-regulation by clarifying ethics codes in writing and communicating these to the staff and personnel of the agency (e.g., clarify rules on cash gifts, how to remain independent of sources).
2. Radio stations and the local KBP chapter should implement stricter guidelines for blocktime broadcasters, especially those espousing partisan political advocacies.
   • 2.1. Prior to the start of the blocktimer’s engagement and program airing, actions that can be taken include:
     • requiring blocktimers to submit program mechanics
     • having them spell out their advocacies and clarify limitations;
     • subscribing to the code of ethics and standards of the media agency and the KBP; and
     • requiring them to secure KBP accreditation before program starts.
   • 2.2. In the course of the engagement with the blocktimer, actions that can be taken include:
     • clarifying disciplinary processes;
     • monitoring blocktime programs and enforcing guidelines; and
     • engaging citizens in addressing concerns regarding blocktimers in non-KBP stations
3. Foster frequent and open discussion of ethical dilemmas in the newsroom and during media seminars. Ethics should be part of the way we do journalism, not just a topic that is only discussed whenever there is an ethical violation or a problem arises.

On welfare conditions:

1. Media owners and gatekeepers should provide fully for standard compensation and benefits to all media workers in accordance with the Labor Code and government issuances on labor standards.
2. Media owners and gatekeepers should cover all reasonable benefits of all media practitioners including regular staff, talents, and contractual employees. These benefits should include health insurance and term insurance for covering hazardous assignments.
3. Media owners and gatekeepers should provide fully for logistics and supplies for reporters, camera crew, and photojournalists assigned to field and out-of-town coverage.
4. Encourage media owners to provide attention to and address the welfare concerns of their employees.
5. Explore the concept of media cooperatives to support media workers in times of need.

On safety issues:

1. Safety concerns should be considered as important as the 5Ws and 1H.
2. Clarify and put in writing in-house safety guidelines and communicate these to all staff and personnel of the agency.
3. Media agencies should partner with media organizations in organizing safety training seminars, including self-defense skills. Media agencies should also designate their respective in-house safety training officer.
4. Observe safety protocols on pre-deployment and during coverage: prepare prior to deployment; provide safety and defense equipment (e.g., bullet-proof vest); and improve mode of transport for remote and critical coverage.
5. Network and engage with media organizations to assure assistance when dire situations happen.
6. Create a hotline by province to address and record cases of harassment.
7. Bloggers should seek ways to protect themselves against cyber bullying.

Affirmed on May 19, 2012 at Casa Leticia Boutique Hotel, Davao City, during the Maguindanao and Beyond: Media Murders and the Quest for Justice Training Seminar-Workshop for Mindanao-based journalists and gatekeepers conducted by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

Jasper Acosta
ABS-CBN RNG-Cotabato

Maria Sozina L. Alamban
GMA Cagayan de Oro

Rona Omo Alvizo
Radyo Natin Manila Broadcasting Company/Alvizo Production Agency, Surigao del Sur

Adrian Michael A. Amatong
The Mindanao Observer

Cheryl B. Amor
TV5 Davao

Vinafel P. Araneta
ABS-CBN Davao

Walter Idul Balane
MindaNews and Bukidnon News

Rodrigo Bolivar II
ABS-CBN Northern Mindanao

Alexis G. Cabardo
DXDA Agusan del Sur Broadcasting

Pacifico T. Estore Jr.
DXMV – University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, Bukidnon

Stella A. Estremera
Sun.Star Davao

Jaime Voltaire G. Faustino
Zamboanga Today

Mark Francisco
Mindanao Gold Star Daily

Dulce Rose P. Lada
Davao Bloggers

Nicole Jocelle Marie Managbanag
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

Alfredo V. Plaza Jr.
DXDA Agusan del Sur Broadcasting

Beverly Anne Santos
ABS-CBN General Santos

Jennifer T. Solis
GMA General Santos

Joel C. Solis
DXDA Agusan del Sur Broadcasting