SPECIAL REPORT
Local Media’s Economic Woes

Although the press is looked up to as the Fourth Estate and serves as a powerful instrument in advancing social justice, its members are victims of the exploitation that the press discusses and exposes daily.

By Karl G. Ombion and Ryan Lachica
Bulatlat

From Media’s Grassroots
First of two parts

BACOLOD CITY – Although the press is looked up to as the Fourth Estate and serves as a powerful instrument in advancing social justice, its members are victims of the exploitation that the press discusses and exposes daily.

Local broadcasters, news writers, disc jockeys, technical crew, and the rest of the media industry also suffer from exploitation, living on such meager wages which sometimes lead to media corruption and abuse.

There are some media practitioners who, despite years of service, are still considered “volunteers.” Others are categorized under so-called “talents” with very little chance of being regularized. Many are thus forced to take on jobs that put them in unethical situations.

The following are interviews with local media practitioners in Bacolod conducted by Bulatlat. To get more candid accounts, their names and media organizations have been withheld as requested.

Life of insecurity

Bruce (not his real name) has been working for two years now as a broadcaster in a local radio station the mother company of which is based in the National Capital Region (NCR). But up to now, he is still a “talent”.

“I’ve done news writing, been an anchorman, done patrol... the only thing left that I haven’t done is mop the floor,” he said.

Bruce said that talents should only work six hours a day, as the Labor Code says. His contract with the station also states that he would be compensated per appearance only. Bruce however works just like the other regular employees. He handles a regular radio program, is assigned a news beat and goes on coverage trips.

But his only chance of becoming regular is if somebody resigns and a post becomes vacant.

Bruce gets P4,000 a month which is still not enough to live on despite being single. Being a talent, his company is not obligated to provide social security benefits. Sometimes, he receives commissions in the form of goods or cash if he is able to get ads although this is not compulsory unlike in some stations.

The only reason he is able to cope, Bruce said, is because of his sidelines. Bruce accepts hosting jobs in town fiestas, serves as judge in beauty contests and sings in weddings, baptisms and birthdays.

Bruce believes he is lucky to have alternative sources of income that are neither illegal nor against media ethics. He said broadcasters in other stations are sometimes forced to engage in marketing work for the company, looking for advertising sponsors through politicians and other prominent figures.

This leads to corruption, said Bruce, with the transaction sometimes going way beyond advertising. The broadcaster sometimes becomes part of the public relations staff of the politician or businessman.

“I’ve been told that in other stations, they are being compelled to raise funds and even have a quota to meet every month. This is beyond news work,” said Bruce.

Meanwhile, Anna, a secretary and part-time DJ in an FM station, also does not receive medical and health insurance benefits and hazard pay. She receives P6,000 for her office work and a measly P500 for DJ work.

“It’s not really my forte but I have to help in the expenses,” said Anna who has been with the station for two years and four months.

John, not his real name, is an engineer and part of the technical crew of a local FM station. He has been in the industry for more than seven years now. He used to be a regular employee in the local AM radio station and when its FM counterpart opened, he requested for lateral transfer.

“I was one of the pioneers of this station,” said John.

In 2002, the station’s mother company decided to make the local stations shoulder part of the expenses. This led to losses for the company which had to cut operational costs. The employees thus lost their benefits.

John receives P6,800 a month, barely enough to feed his family. Lucky for John, he has another source of income – operating sound systems for special occasions like fiestas, weddings, prom dances and birthdays.

John said the company still owes him about P100,000 for unpaid overtime salaries. He said the technical crew has to work overtime even if the company doesn’t pay them for it.

“If we don’t, all operations would stop,” said John. Bulatlat

Second of two parts: Building Unity

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