THE FOURTH ESTATE IN THE 21st CENTURY: PHILIPPINE MEDIA AS CATALYSTS FOR RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC GOVERNANCE

ABSTRACT

Title: THE FOURTH ESTATE IN THE 21^st CENTURY: PHILIPPINE MEDIA AS CATALYSTS FOR RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC GOVERNANCE

Degree: Master in Public Administration

Date: 2018

Institution: University of Caloocan City

Researcher: Marianne R. Alivio, MPA

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Since Martial Law ended, Philippine media has been known as the freest in Asia, but this liberality demands that media practitioners have a high sense of responsibility, morality, and fairness at all times. However, the advancement of communications technologies which are hugely filter-free made being bearers and disseminators of information no longer exclusive to news journalists. This gave way to the rise of a new type of journalists as well as purveyors of fake news, which affect not just the public, but the propensity of the media and the government to appropriately deliver its intended services.

This descriptive study is therefore conducted to better understand how the Fourth Estate has changed in the 21st century and what its members should do to continue becoming catalysts for responsible public governance. Qualitative method is used in the gathering of data. And then, to aid in a more digestible presentation of the findings, quantitative method is used, employing the following statistical treatment: frequency, percentage, and weighted mean.

The best practices of the Fourth Estate in the 21^st century are identified as ensuring that details on news stories are on record; that reporters are adequately trained, do not forget the basic 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, why) and H (how), and that their reporting is people-centered; that producers are hands-on and meticulous with detail; that even those with highly technical responsibilities have a nose for news; and that people on the field and in the studios communicate at all times. This shows that, despite the Fourth Estate evolving, the tenets being observed by journalists, exemplified in the Journalist's Code of Ethics, remain the same in the 21st century.  Technology - its products and effects - are also seen to serve both as a challenge and as an opportunity for Philippine mass media. There is thus, a need for newsmen to fully embrace, understand and master the nooks and crannies of technology as well as the Journalist's Code of Ethics, which will help see them through unconventional competition and even the contradicting nature of media ownerships.

For media to continue being catalysts for responsible public governance in the 21st century, the researcher recommends the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and the amendment of the Consumer Act of the Philippines. This will inspire newsmen to continue and be stringent in instituting industry standards, while safeguarding their Constitutional right to freedom of the press.