The Nationwide Union of Journalists of the Philippines has weighed in on the difficulty between Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto and journalists Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao. — INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Nationwide Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) reminded media practitioners on Sunday that any type of compensation for “favorable protection” is a menace to editorial independence.
In its assertion, the NUJP mentioned the apply of accepting charges “erodes belief in our occupation and in its practitioners and performs into the narrative that journalism could be purchased and offered, undermining its crucial function as a watchdog towards corruption, whether or not in authorities or the personal sector.”
The assertion was made after Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto instructed on social media that broadcasters Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao had been paid to interview Curlee and Sarah Discaya, his defeated rival within the Might midterm elections.
The 2 information anchors have denied any unethical apply.
In its assertion, the NUJP referred to as on the media group to “revisit and reaffirm” the moral pointers present in each the Journalists’ Code of Ethics and the NUJP’s Moral Information for Filipino Journalists.
“Tough as it’s, we can not take delight in calling ourselves journalists with out adhering to the fundamental requirements and guiding ideas of the occupation,” the NUJP emphasised.
Whereas the group acknowledged solicitation as a standard apply within the trade, it famous that it could be a “matter of survival the place many colleagues are paid minimal wage or much less for work.”
NUJP additionally cited different moral dilemmas amongst media practitioners, akin to in search of advertisers for salaries, and accepting public relations work to “get by.”
It then urged media corporations to compensate employees pretty.
“The media group has lengthy been conscious of those situations and the risks they pose to the moral apply of the occupation. It has been working tirelessly to handle these,” the NUJP mentioned.
READ: Korina to Vico: Put up about ‘P10-M’ interview is cyberlibel
Two Discaya corporations had been listed amongst 15 others as having cornered some P100 billion price of the Division of Public Works and Highways’ flood management contracts.
In his publish, Sotto referred to as the alleged fee to journalists in trade for being featured on their platforms “shameful and violative” of the code of ethics, although “not technically unlawful.”
Sanchez’ camp has denied the accusations, saying these “clearly represent cyberlibel.”
Babao additionally denied the allegations, describing his interview with the Discayans as a “profile characteristic of a pair who rose from rags to riches due to their totally different enterprise ventures.”
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