Prime standards needed for the Malacañang press

Written by: Rachelle Samin

Published May 27, 2022

During Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s presidential campaign, professional journalists had difficulty covering him. He skipped several mainstream interviews and attended only one out of five debates, declining the invites of GMA News, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), CNN Philippines, and even the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

Many reporters were also restricted during his grand proclamation rally at Philippine Arena, Santa Maria, Bulacan on February 8. Meanwhile, vloggers and social media influencers were able to secure spots in the event, according to Rappler reporter Lian Buan, who almost missed the accreditation to cover the campaign.

Now that Marcos is the elected president of the Philippines, his team said they may consider the accreditation of vloggers or social media practitioners to join the Malacañang press once his term begins.

At a press conference on May 11, Marcos Jr.’s spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez said it was a way to give the media more access to the government. Furthermore, Rodriguez said their team will coordinate with the transition team of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the current setup of media accreditation.

Under the Duterte regime, social media accreditation can be issued to a Filipino citizen who is at least 18 years old and has at least 5,000 followers on any social media platform, based on the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Department Order No. 15 or the “Interim Social Media Accreditation.”

The standards for accreditation of social media practitioners are very low compared to mainstream journalists. Commonly, palace reporters have professional experiences covering “lower” beats like police stories before being assigned to Malacañang. Many of them also have a bachelor’s or a master’s degree as well as training in mass communication or journalism before getting a reporter job.

For example, most members of the Malacañang press during the administrations of Diosdado Macapagal and Ferdinand Marcos Sr. were considered veterans like Isagani Yambot of the Manila Times and Max Edralin of the Philippine Herald.

However, Rodriguez said they would improve the setup of social media practitioners’ accreditation if it needs improvement.

One of the major issues in the accreditation of social media practitioners is ethical journalism. Numerous accredited bloggers and influencers like Mocha Uson, Ray Joseph Nieto, and Atty. Bruce Rivera use profanity on their social media accounts. Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, now appointed as PCOO Secretary under Marcos, said the government should not prohibit these practitioners from using offensive language as it makes them “colorful.” According to Cruz-Angeles, it is what attracts the readers to their sites. However, these accredited social media practitioners used indecent words to raise hate towards the administration's opposition and professional journalists who are critical of the Duterte administration.

For example, Uson publicly cursed outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo during the livestream of her commentary program on DZRH radio station: “Leni, you are stupid. You and your whole staff are stupid. You’re all sons of b—---.” Nieto also cursed the accredited Malacañang journalists on his Facebook Live: “You Malacañang Press Corps, you act like you’re for the Filipino people, but you’re sons of b—---!”

Moreover, pro-government bloggers were given priority by the PCOO, while professional journalists received restrictions. For instance, according to a Rappler report, pro-Duterte bloggers were able to interview the President in his hotel in China and Singapore, while Malacañang reporters were prohibited by the Palace’s Media Accreditation and Relations Office from doing ambush interviews. Social media practitioners appeared to have more access to the administration than the accredited journalists of the Malacañang.

If the Marcos team’s reason for accreditation of social media practitioners is to give media more access to the government, then more privileges and access should be granted to the professional journalists instead of giving them restraint. Their skills gained through years of formal journalism practice are ever more needed to effectively deliver reliable information which will help the people to check the government and its governance.

As the next administration vows better access to information, prime standards such as accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and public accountability are needed for the members and incoming members of the Malacañang press.

If bloggers, vloggers and social media influencers would be accredited to cover the presidential beat, their work standards should be based on Journalistic Codes of Ethics to deliver the truth to the people and to improve the transparency of the government. They should not let their personal motives and biases toward the government, organizations, public officers, or private individuals influence their role as a Malacañang reporter. The PCOO must set a proper code of conduct for social media practitioners covering presidential events including journalistic integrity and require them to undergo at least a fundamental journalism training and practice to learn objective, fair, and ethical reporting before being accredited. As a prestigious beat, the Malacañang press must preserve its prime standards on reporting.