IV Martial Law Period

1. The Beginning
a. When President Marcos decided to proclaim Martial Law, the mass media were among
the first to be brought to heel – forced to obey / control
b. Marcos said that one of the reasons he proclaimed martial law was because of the
massive propaganda assaults against the government through Publications, broadcasts,
press-radio-television media, leaflets, college campus newspapers and some
newspapers
c. Mass media were infiltrated and controlled by persons “who are sympathetic to the
insurgents who consequently intensified their propaganda assault against the
government and the military establishment of the government.”
d. Marcos’ very first letter of instruction after the proclamation of Martial law, issued on
22 September 1972 directed the take over and control of all communications media for
the duration of the present national emergency
e. On the same day, Marcos ordered all mass media closed except government radio and
television stations in Manila – the Voice of the Philippines and the stations of the
Philippine Broadcasting Service, two privately owned mass media enterprises – Daily
Express and Kanlaon Broadcasting System both owned by Roberto Benedicto, a crony of
Marcos, because they had not participated in the communist conspiracy to overthrow
the Philippine Government.
f. Far East Broadcasting System, owned and operated by Protestant missionaries in the
Philippines was allowed to resume operations on 25 September
g. On 26 September, more newspapers and magazines were allowed to resume operations
– weekly magazines in local languages owned by Hans Menzi, former aide of Marcos,
the Philippine Herald owned by Andres Soriano Jr., owner of the biggest Philippine
Corporation, and Radio Mindanao Network-Interisland Broadcasting Company, affiliate
companies of the herald
h. The authorization to the Herald was rescinded last minute because the government was
sticking to its new policy of keeping mass media off the hands of big business and
oligarchs
i. All leading metropolitan newspapers and magazines we closed down permanently
except Manila Bulletin – it was revived on 22 November 1972 under Bulletin Today
j. When martial law was proclaimed dozens of the top journalists in the country were
picked up and brought to the stockades in charges of subversion. They were eventually
released.
k. Pre-Martial law journalist who were not put in jail fared only slightly better than their
colleagues who were taken in: they had no more jobs, they did not know what to do,
they were confused and bewildered
l. Two years after most of mass media practitioners who were rendered jobless had found
new jobs in new mass media units or in other occupations and professions
m. The Philippine press in 1974 was a far cry from what it used to be
n. 1975 stories of graft and corruption in government, big time crimes, and the Muslim
problem in Mindanao began to appear in the mass media. While news pages of the
 Manila newspapers were becoming interesting their editorial pages remained dull. The
community press on the other hands remained colorless even in the news pages
2. Mass Media Controls
a. Early days of Martial law – military being used to control the mass media
b. When allowed to operate – military was utilized to do prior censorship
c. In the provinces, newspapers and radio stations had to submit manuscripts and tapes to
the local police commander before publication or airing
d. Secretary of national defense, Enrile, and secretary of public information, Francisco S.
Tatad – organized the Committee on Mass Media that drew up the early guidelines for
mass media.
e. Overt censorship or threat of legal sanctions in form of Presidential Decrees
f. Covert censorship – censorship by friendship – surrounded himself with a new breed of
oligarchs with their own mass media empires
g. Libel suits against journalists – many left and right
h. Bribery became widespread and institutionalized – another technique of managing mass
media
i. Most lethal weapon was torture – mental or physical violence threats, intimidations,
closures, banning deportation, detention, and death.
j. Death was the ultimate form of censorship for many
3. The Rise of the Alternative Press
a. In the start of martial law these methods were able to stifle dissent, however, towards
the end of 1970s a few brave souls began to test the waters
b. Jose Burgos Jr. who founded the We Forum – published news that cannot be found in
the crony press- in the next few years became bolder and bolder and its circulation
increased when it was raided buy the military and closed down on 7 December 1982
c. After release Burgos published Malaya to take the place of we Forum
d. Philippine Collegian had also been pursuing a militant brand of journalism
e. These two were the forerunners of the alternative press – provide alternative source of
information to the crony press
f. Assassination of Benigno Aquino
g. Crony press was silent – they did not know what to do – waited for instructions – carry
the story or not
h. The circulation of the alternative papers continued to increase while crony papers
plummeted – the growing boldness of mass media and the growing size of crowds
demonstrating on the streets in anger over the Aquino assassination
i. Boycott movement against crony press – self-defense – began carrying stories on the
Aquino assassination – had to print the truth in self defense
j. By 1985 alternative press pushed crony papers into a corner
k. 1986 when Marcos regime was finally overthrown the alternative press had taken
center stage
l. 1987 alternative press had become the establishment press
4. Lessons from Martial Law
a. When news is censored, rumors and gossip will proliferate as people become starved for
information
 b. When mass media is muzzled there is no check to government abuse
c. When the press is gagged it deteriorates
d. Government hides the truth, may succeed at first, but truth will come out from other
sources – government will lose credibility – everything is lost
e. With the rise of modern communication technologies, it is no longer possible to impose
complete or near complete censorship
f. People will always demand to know the truth – the truth will set them free – no matter
what cost
5. Philippine Media After EDSA Revolution
a. Mushrooming of newspaper – anybody could publish as long as they have money
b. 24 newspapers over 17 after a year after EDSA
c. Crony newspapers change name to break away from the stigma of being crony
publications
d. PCGG imposed what journalists perceived as real infringement on press freedom
e. 7 years after the revolution there were 34 metro manila dailies
f. Not only mushrooming of newspapers but also the proliferation of media practitioners
g. Depleted supply of suitable practitioners and opened the profession to invasion of
pseudo journalist resulting in widespread malpractice
6. Philippine Mass Media Today
a. New communication technology – practice of journalism faster and the life of journalists
easier
b. Quality of journalism is still debatable – access to sources has become so easy reporters
do not take the extra effort to make their stories better validated, more in depth, fairer,
or with a broader perspective
7. Philippine Mass Media at a Glance in 2015
a. 32 dailies and tabloids in metro manila
b. 552 publications in the provinces
c. 695 manila and provincial radio stations
d. Newspaper circulation is at a standstill at 7 million
e. Magazine circulation has declined
f. Mass media continue to suffer from sensationalism because of competition for
readership and ratings
g. Social media – news raw and unverified
h. Media corruption has become rampant because journalists are poorly paid and lack
credentials to practice
i. Ownership is controlled by big businesses
j. Print and new media still serve the elite class in society
k. Radio and television are now reaching and catering to the masses
First Slide

 When President Marcos decided to proclaim Martial Law, the mass media were among the first
to be brought to heel.
 Sabi ni marcos isa daw sa dahilan kung bakit niya dineclare ang martial law ay dahil sa mga
propaganda assaults ng mass media sa government
 Mass media were infiltrated and controlled by persons “who are sympathetic to the insurgents
who consequently intensified their propaganda assault against the government
 Yung pinaka unang ginawa ni marcos after ng declaration ng martial law ay ang pag kuha ng
control sa lahat ng forms of communication media On the same day, Marcos ordered all mass
media closed except government radio and television stations in Manila and 2 private media
companies owned by Roberto benedicto – crony
 A few days later some were allowed to continue. The Philippine Herald owned by the owner of
San Miguel Corp The authorization to the Herald was rescinded last minute because the
government was sticking to its new policy of keeping mass media off the hands of big business
and oligarchs
 All leading metropolitan newspapers and magazines we closed down permanently except
Manila Bulletin
 When martial law was proclaimed dozens of the top journalists in the country were picked up
and brought to the stockades in charges of subversion
 journalist who were not put in jail fared only slightly better than their colleagues who were
taken in: they had no more jobs, they did not know what to do, they were confused and
bewildered

2nd Slide

 Early days of Martial law – military being used to control the mass media
 When allowed to operate – military was utilized to do prior censorship
 In the provinces, newspapers and radio stations had to submit manuscripts and tapes to the
local police commander before publication or airing
 Secretary of national defense, Enrile, and secretary of public information, Francisco S. Tatad –
organized the Committee on Mass Media that drew up the early guidelines for mass media.
 Overt censorship or threat of legal sanctions in form of Presidential Decrees
 Covert censorship – censorship by friendship – surrounded himself with a new breed of
oligarchs with their own mass media empires
 Libel suits against journalists – many left and right
 Bribery became widespread and institutionalized – another technique of managing mass media
 Most lethal weapon was torture – mental or physical violence threats, intimidations, closures,
banning deportation, detention, and death.
 Death was the ultimate form of censorship for many

3rd Slide