Media trust, betrayed and lost

News has been going around about the boycott of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), ABS-CBN, and Rappler by members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).

This move by the members of the INC is a resounding expression of their utter disgust on how those media outfits have been unscrupulous when reporting news about the Church.

This move is a clear indication that PDI, ABS-CBN, and Rappler have lost the trust of the people who once relied on them for accurate and impartial news and information.

These media organizations have long been considered as pillars of Philippine Journalism. But they have deteriorated in the practice of their craft in recent decades. (Well, except for the upstart Rappler, which is a pseudo-news agency. That website is a bit of a joke really.)

For so many times, they have become seemingly like hired guns of media spin-doctors to carry out character assassinations (i.e., the newspaper’s and TV network’s slanted coverage of ex-President Joseph Estrada’s and ex-SC Justice Renato Corona’s impeachments, the Senate hearings on the corruption charges against Vice President Jejomar Binay, and the never-ending negative media reporting about the Marcoses).

PDI, ABS-CBN, and Rappler, would likely deny that they are biased against the INC. That’s the natural reflex of such journalists.

But the proof is in their news reporting. Their unusual news coverage, and the tone and slant of their reporting are dead giveaways.

PDI and Rappler have ran increasingly slanted news about the Church in recent months, some of these reports were: “Ousted Iglesia ni Cristo leader bares murder plot” (PDI, Oct. 26, 2015; “INC leaders face US raps” (PDI, Nov. 29, 2015); “Suspended Iglesia ni Cristo minister details detention” (PDI, July 24, 2015); “Sister of Iglesia head questions expulsion: It's my house” (PDI, Jan. 15, 2015; “DoJ secures 3 expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo members” (PDI, July 26, 2015); “Blogger ‘Ebangelista’ writes Inquirer, warns Iglesia elders” (PDI, Nov. 29, 2015); “Manalo brother hits Iglesia ni Cristo 'corruption'” (Rappler, July 24, 2015).

They had also published reports that were based either on unverified information or just plain hearsays: “Iglesia collections stashed in Cayman?” (PDI, Dec. 1, 2015); “Iglesia ni Cristo protester at Edsa rally: ‘Wala kaming napala. Nagpagod lang kami’” (PDI, Aug. 29, 2015); “Blogger ‘Ebangelista’ writes Inquirer, warns Iglesia elders” (PDI, Nov. 29, 2015); “Iglesia member: My heart grieves for 'misled' brethren” (PDI, Aug. 30, 2015); Iglesia ni Cristo leaders fighting over use of funds, building of PH Arena – source” (PDI, July 23, 2015); “Iglesia ni Cristo minister Isaias Samson: Life in danger” (Rappler, Sept. 16, 2015; “Why De Lima is target of Iglesia ni Cristo's anger” (Rappler, Aug. 29, 2015); “INC leaders using planes worth billions of pesos?” (Rappler, July 25, 2015).

Then an article entitled, ”INC ‘thinking’ members to defy group’s practice of bloc voting,” appeared on the front page of the newspaper on Dec. 14, 2015. What is interesting about that article is that it is actually written by a seasoned columnist of the broadsheet. But curiously it was placed in the front page of the daily to apparently make it appear as a factual news article to undiscerning readers.

PDI had also published a number of editorials that were highly speculative and carried very biased views against the INC, such as “The Iglesia's long arm?” (Jan. 22, 2016); and, “Iglesia Nonsense (Aug. 31, 2015).”

Rappler also had its share of opinion articles that read more like fiction stories: “(Two Pronged) Leaving Iglesia ni Cristo?” (Apr. 19, 2015); “INC and the mentality of exclusivity” (Aug. 14, 2014); and “INC: From rag-tag sect to influential wheeler-dealer?” (July 27, 2014), just to name a few.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN has been airing news items that are clearly biased toward a group of expelled members of the Church.

The TV network has given them a very unusual media coverage to help breathe life into their dying and doomed cause. Ces Oreña-Drilon always seems to score a scoop when it comes to reporting news about the expelled members. She’s almost always there in their press-cons, gave them exclusive interviews, and even escorted them from wherever they have been back to the home of which that they are now illegal occupants.

When reporting about the INC, the other news anchors’ and reporters’—such as Ted Failon, Karen Davila, and Doris Bigornia—tone and demeanor are evidently biased against the Church.

What were mentioned above are just some of the many reports that reflect the negative attitude of PDI, Rappler, and ABS-CBN toward the INC.

Who can blame the indignant INC members who felt that the Church was never been given a fair treatment in the court of public opinion? All they are asking for is impartial news reporting. They feel betrayed by those media organizations that promised to deliver fair and balanced news.

In a democratic society, the media plays a crucial role in informing the citizenry of relevant news and current affairs that would help them make rational and objective judgments and decisions. Such special privilege of the “fourth estate” of society should not be abused nor corrupted by anyone.