Caught in the Act

A Reaction Paper on the Interplay of Mass Media
And Social Transformation during the Estrada
Administration

Can mass media affect society? If its job is confined to reporting, shall this be enough to move society towards change? Can social transformation be possible through media?

Day after day, the president is shown on television, heard on the radio, and read on the news. A few months back, the Filipino people saw their president spend much for an eye surgery, gamble while most of the country is in poverty, and do what seems like some public service here and there. The Filipino people also heard their president hurl curses, threats, and promises that are now known to be empty. The Filipino people read about their president and his many women, children, kumpares, houses, and money.

The Filipino found the president out through mass media.

Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada was already used to the limelight-he had been an actor for many years. But maybe he did not like the light shed on him as those still watching his TV series, reading his press releases, and hearing his radio show as President followed so closely. Because the limelight is now portraying him not as a hero, but as a bungling, self-centered, mafia executive leader.

Media covered numerous scams that are supposedly connected to Estrada-his supposed links to the Kuratong Baleleng Rubout case, the 1999 Textbook scam, the 2000 Fire truck scam, PCSO Scandal, BW Scandal, among others like Jude, his son, borrowing the presidential plane for personal purposes. Broadcasters investigated on his wealth, his patronage system, and his overnight drinking sessions a.k.a. Presidential Planning. And who would forget Erap's famous lines caught on tape: "Tamaan ka ng kidlat!" and "Pupulutin kayo sa kangkungan."?

The president was anything but the darling of the press, and all the while, the Filipinos were still watching, hearing, reading. And they definitely got word about Erap being the Lord of all Jueteng Lords, coming from the Ilocos jueteng king himself, Chavit Singson.

Akin to the telenovela craze, Erap Estrada almost took the throne of Latin heartthrob Thalia when his show, The President on Trial, impeachment trial that is, lasted only 19 days. People talked about the cute lawyers, the funny comments, and the guilty or innocent president. From Day 1 of the trail, the Filipinos were glued.

After the barrage of information, what was the resulting effect of the media coverage to its audience? What we know is that after the famous second envelope was denied as evidence in court, people of all ages and walks of life went to the streets and cried for a new president. As more and more people trooped to the EDSA Shrine on those days in January, media covered the story too, and the people kept coming to be part of the now historic event known as EDSA 2.

In its role as watchdog of the government, the eyes and ears of the people, the media indeed has a great and important responsibility�and power. Because the information it brings can bring forth change. It may be not the main catalyst, but it is a major player in social transformation. Mass media has the power to make the people aware, concerned, and involved. From the La Solidaridad, to the radio broadcasts of 1986, mass media has played a significant part in informing the populace on what affects them.

It is this responsibility and power that the media should handle with care.