Cebu Citizens-Press Council

Ways to improve coverage of future elections suggested
By Cherry Ann T. Lim
Sun.Star Cebu, June 30, 2010

THE media and representatives from various sectors of society gave suggestions on how the Cebu media could improve its coverage of future elections.

During the 19th quarterly meeting of the Cebu Citizens-Press Council yesterday, Michael Yu, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City chapter, said the citizens’ watchdog group C-Cimpel, as well as the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente), received scant media coverage, as did candidates for senator and councilor.

Lente educates voters to help them decide on who to vote for, he said.

Jonathan Rubin of the Church-based Dilaab movement to transform the nation through Christian citizenship said the media should cover not only personalities who have a history of mudslinging and election violence but also those with good track records or “success in elections,” such as those who overthrow political dynasties through enlightened voters.

Good governance

Dondi Joseph, president of the Cebu Business Club, said there were some stories of good governance, but these were not covered by the media.
He also said there were people who refused to sell their votes, but no stories were written on this.

But he said Cebu media is “very balanced” in its coverage of the news.

Former Cebu City administrator Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez said Cebu City Hall and the local members of the Liberal Party were happy with media’s coverage of the elections but that improvements could be made in the context and depth of the stories.

Pachico Seares, public and standards editor of Sun.Star Cebu and executive director of CCPC, said beyond the “accusations and denials (by politicians), media didn’t look deeper.”

He said no fact-finding was done, for instance, to determine if the charges against certain candidates truly existed, such as through cases filed with the Ombudsman.

Columnist and CCPC member Mayette Tabada said Cebu media were doing well in their daily coverage but that grants were needed to allow local media to do more investigative reporting.

“The issue of corruption can be addressed by media,” she said.

But she also said some journalists might not be willing to undertake such a “difficult and risky job” of following the paper trail or money trail that could uncover corruption.