Abstract
This role of the media in promoting, and even defending, the corporate interests has long tickled the intuitive minds of the scholars of media. In the Philippines, this role has been called into question once again after former Environment Secretary Regina Paz López accused the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Inquirer) of being biased to the interests of the mining industry. The said newspaper is one of the leading national Philippine newspapers today. On February 14, 2017, López ordered the cancellation of the contracts of 75 mining firms operating in sensitive areas in the Philippines, such as watersheds. The following day, Inquirer, in its banner story, tagged López’ move as the “Valentine’s Day massacre”. The newspaper soon ran several stories and even dedicated whole pages criticizing López and her shutdown order. An irate López, in a YouTube video, fired back at the newspaper and branded it as a mouthpiece of the mining industry. Given the recent accusations against the media, specifically Inquirer, on their alleged involvement in the promotion of the interests of the elite, this study looks at the phenomenon and critically assesses the extent of influence the political economy has over the Inquirer coverage of the mining issues and controversies. It employs the propaganda model and assesses its application amid the reign of neoliberalism. It finds that Inquirer has been involved in a web of political and financial interests that allow it to serve as mouthpiece for mining industry in the Philippines.
Presenters
Rejinel ValenciaStudent, MA Journalism, University of the Philippines College of Media and Communication, Philippines
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Propaganda model, Neoliberalism, Mining, Philippine Daily Inquirer
