Reading Between the Lines
The media has the power to help people think for themselves and to teach them how to overcome evil with goodness. However, the power of the media to transform society and remedy social evil remains firmly locked away in the do-nothing boxes of the political elite and industrial tycoons.
My experience is that media independence is imperiled by the interference of these meddling ministers of vested interests. One example was that my weekly column in a leading newspaper, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, was removed after almost eight years, when allegedly, a wealthy family with close ties to a politician I had criticised, bought the newspaper.
Over the years I have received many threats and warnings for my frank and open work and I have been unjustly sued for libel numerous times and won all to date. The most recent was when I exposed a death squad executing street children in Davao City.
Another gruesome reminder of the price of non-conformity was the murder of a
high-flying publicist earlier this year; he allegedly masterminded the media
campaign that undermined ex-President Estrada. The murder was traced to a police
execution squad. The former police general, in office at the time, denied all
responsibility, he is presently a leading contender for the Philippine Senate.
(Note. he is among the winners, but not yet declared)
The problem is that in the developing world, other forces are at work besides the race for ratings and revenues. The media moguls also happen to be the leading members of the ruling elite. Consequently, the discerning viewer has to engage in mental gymnastics to read between the lines, behind them and under them. 'They who win the media war, rule the nation', is one phrase that rings true.
In the Philippines, before his fall from power, the disgraced former president, Joseph Estrada, a well known movie actor, called on the entertainment industry to boycott the Philippine Daily Inquirer when it was critical of his administration. The entertainment industry followed suit and most cinemas and theatres withdrew their advertising accounts. To it's lasting credit the newspaper was not intimidated and stood by its position.
However, a stand against this draconian control occurred last year when a presidential crony took over the Manila Times because their reporting was critical of President Estrada. Most of the editors and journalists bravely walked out.
Like them, there are those within the media who are dedicated to that elusive entity, the truth. They are the few who believe in the power of the truth to change the world for the better. They are independent, fearless and report with sensitivity and compassion.
Those of us who strive to protect the rights of the innocent and the exploited and take a stand for the poor and the oppressed know that the media has the power to be the most effective agent of change in the world. Unwilling as the owners might be, we have to persuade them to work for social justice and we must work with them without compromising the values and principles by which we live.
E-mail: preda@svisp.com
Shay Cullen is a Missionary priest from Ireland, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work protecting children in the Philippines since 1969. As a writer and journalist, social commentator and convention speaker he promotes social justice and Christian values. He is the founder and President of the Preda foundation, an organization working to empower the poor, protect abused children and campaign for human rights and end the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children.
Fr. Shay Cullen
October 2001
