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On 23 August 2010 a hostage-taking incident in Manila, Philippines was
broadcast live by the country’s largest networks, ABS-CBN and GMA. A
dismissed police officer, Rolando Mendoza, held 25 people, most of
them Hong Kong nationals visiting the city, in a tourist bus as he
demanded his reinstatement in the police force. Negotiations failed,
resulting in the death of Mendoza and eight hostages, all Hong Kong
nationals. Below faculty members comment on the media’s coverage of
the crisis.
Professional standards during crisis coverageby Karl WilsonThe Philippine media has a well-earned reputation for fearless reporting, much of it gained during the dark days of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos when the media was either closed or heavily censored. This gave rise to a thriving underground press known as the “Mosquito Press.” It never stayed in one place, was constantly on the move but its reports often stung. The end of Marcos saw the dawning of what was supposed to have been a new age for the Philippines and its people. The 1987 Philippine constitution (Article III Bill of rights) says:
Journalists in the Philippines, particularly the broadcast media, enlist the constitution and the freedom of the press to vindicate their professional conduct or misconduct but this does not give the media the right to ignore ethical, moral and legal considerations. Last Friday (August 27) the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an article on page A12 quoted chief superintendant Rodolfo Magtibay, the ground commander during Monday’s bloody tourist bus siege, as saying: “You cannot control the media.” Read also : When "don't cross the line" mean exactly that by Karl Wilson
The Cliché in the newsby Jonathan Corpus OngBy now Filipinos home and abroad, and witnesses the world over, have a stock of visuals and voices that would mark their experiences of the tragic events at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila last August 23. A tall, proud tourist bus, its sides emblazoned in bold Chinese characters, became the unwitting battleground between a kidnapper and his hostages, an ex-cop and his desperation for reinstatement, two TV networks in perpetual one-upmanship, and really, a nation and whatever is left of its pride and reputation. |
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 Asian journalists pursuing ACFJ programs may obtain financial support through the ACFJ Fellowships and the financial assistance program. Fifteen fellowship grants are awarded annually to students in MA Journalism while a varying number of fellowships and scholarships are awarded in the other programs. |
 ACFJ seeks to reach not only the current but also the next generation of working journalists. This commitment is realized in the project to produce textbooks in Asian journalism. They fill a serious gap in journalism education in Asia – the lack of classroom materials that are of Asian provenance. In addition to the books, the journal Asian Currents promotes discussion of Asian issues and serves as instructional resource. Schools and media organizations may obtain free copies. |
 ACFJ convenes yearly the Forum for Emerging Leaders in Asian Journalism under the sponsorship of the KAS Media Programme Asia. As a venue for lifelong learning for alumni of the master’s program, the forum promotes lively encounters between them and other young Asian journalists on one hand, and public intellectuals and outstanding senior journalists, on the other. |
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