The political economy of the news media in the Philippines and the framing of news stories on the GPH-CNN peace process
The peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the CNN (CPP-NPA-NDF) is “invisible”. There is currently very little media coverage of the peace process and no background coverage. The Benigno Aquino government seems focused on negotiations with its other insurgency problem, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with which an agreement was reached in 2014. Conflict has significant news value, so the Philippine mainstream media tend to highlight conflict instead of peace when they do report on the CNN. This report argues that:
- The GPH-CNN peace process should be jumpstarted.
- Public opinion should be stirred up to support the resumption of the peace process.
- The quantity and quality of peace process coverage should be upgraded.
- The media should be encouraged to develop full-time peace process reporters.
- A Centre for Peace Studies and Peace Journalism should be created.
The appendixes for this report can be read here.
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Crispin C. Maslog, PhD, is a widely published writer, editor and professor of communication. A former journalist with Agence France-Presse, former director of the School (now College) of Mass Communication, Silliman University, and former professor of the College of Development Communication, UP Los Banos, he is now senior consultant at the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC). He is also chair of the board of directors of the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC).
Ramon R. Tuazon is president of the AIJC and secretary general of the AMIC. He has conducted media studies in the Philippines and other Asia-Pacific countries and has served as a consultant in communication for development programmes in the region.
Daniel Abunales works as a reporter and multimedia editor at Vera Files, a non-profit media organisation based in Manila. He holds a master’s degree in peace and conflict studies from the University of Sydney.
Jake Soriano covers social issues for Vera Files, including human trafficking, peace and conflict, and disability, filing reports from assignments in Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, London and Istanbul, among others. He has also contributed to the Global Post, the BBC and the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Lala Ordenes works as a freelance editor, writer and researcher. As a journalist she has published articles for the Philippine Centre for Investigative Journalism and Vera Files, where she has also contributed to books about people with disabilities.
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