Malacañang guideline for media coverage leads to media boycott
For the first time and of all the times that Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) visited Iloilo, majority of the local media boycotted the President.
Coming from the biggest networks and private mainstream media, the boycott was reached following Wednesday’s outcome of the press briefing held.
At the center of the consensus to boycott was the instruction from Malacañang to allow only one media personality to pose a question during the press conference.
To note, there are five privately-owned broadcast media networks with Iloilo-based stations. There are also four local dailies, a tri-weekly newspaper, Visayas correspondents of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Philippine Star and several blocktime shows on cable television.
Participating networks and media personnel who joined the boycott similarly said the Malacañang order was unacceptable.
Among those in the ‘boycott group’ was Bombo Radyo Iloilo and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Iloilo. Reports said that GMA Iloilo likewise had a boycott-stance while ABS-CBN Iloilo had a late afternoon development. A network source told The News Today (TNT) that orders were out for the TV crew to pose a question during the PGMA media time despite the restrictions posed by Malacañang.
Meanwhile, TNT in an independent confirmation was told of the boycott-decision by other local newspapers. Same position from longtime media personalities.
“We have made our collective decision and that is for a boycott and no media coverage for the President. If they do not want us there and want to regulate the media presence, then let’s give it to them,” said Ronnel Sorbito, Station Manager of RMN Iloilo.
Bombo Radyo for its part was among the first to pose the boycott on the web via its official website. Incidentally, both Bombo Radyo and RMN Iloilo have since provided live coverages of all PGMA Iloilo visit.
Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias for his part tried to have the boycott lifted and appealed to media contacts.
Minutes before the President’s arrival, mostly present at the Iloilo airport were members of the government media.