AN ONLINE MUSEUM OF THE COUNTRY'S STORIED PRESS PAST

Post-War Era

I. Post-War Era – Brief Overview

“Never had the press been so free, never had it wielded such power and influence. The government was
but recently established and uncertain of its strength. It was extremely sensitive to public opinion and the
press took advantage of this healthy state, pouncing on the government’s least mistakes and making
national issues of them… The power of the press was utterly out of proportion to the circulations of the
various papers. None could claim a sale of more than a few thousand copies… There was censorship by the
U. S. Army… But military censorship was soon erased and finally lifted, then it was open season and good
hunting for politicians.”

– Teodoro Locsin, editor of the Philippine Free Press

 (c) psywarrior.com

Press censorship ended during the post-war era. The radio stations were re-opened, though they faced a major problem which was the lack of the receivers.
More receivers seemed to be concentrated in the provinces than in Manila. The newspapers also rose, with the Manila Free Philippines being the first post-
liberation newspaper. It was, at first, distributed for free. The post-war era also paved the way for a new media in the Philippines, which is the
television. Commercial television came in 1953 when DZAQ-TV Channel 3 was opened in Manila by Alto Broadcasting System.

(c) xiaochua.files.wordpress.com

The professionalization of journalism also began during this time, with the establishment of departments and schools to train people.
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 II. Post-War Era: The Tri-Media
I. Radios

In July 2, 1946, Commonwealth Act 729 was established which gave the President of the Philippines a four-year right to grant temporary permits for the
construction, installation, establishment and operation of radio stations. On the following year, the radio stations were required to change the first broadcast
call letter from K to D: “KZ” was replaced by “DZ” for Manila, “DW” Luzon, “DY” for the Visayas, and “DX” for Mindanao.
KZFM was the first radio station that re-opened after the war. It was named after Frederic Marquardt, an American newsman on the pre-war Philippines Free
Press who returned with MacArthur’s troops. KZFM is a 50-watt station operated by the US Army Office of War Information. It was renamed DZFM in 1947.
Post-war provincial radio had its debut when the Cebu Broadcasting Company opened DYRC on Sept. 21, 1947. DYRC was followed shortly after by DYBU.
In 1949, Manila Broadcasting Company and the Philippine Broadcasting System merged, which made the station DZRI the strongest combine in the Philippines at
the time. Big business interests were responsible for some of the first post-war commercial stations.

II. Newspapers
Manila Free Philippines (February-September 1945) was the first post-liberation newspaper, which was published by the U. S. Office of War Information. At first,
it was distributed for free and then eventually, it sold for five centavos.

After the war, huge publishers revived the newspapers. “In the free-enterprise economy, the small “militant, frequently dissenting newspapers” perished”
(Fernandez, 1989) which included:

 Philippine Liberty News Manila Post

 Manila Tribune
 Morning Sun

Philippine Liberty News (c) historicalnews.com

The giant publishers dominated the field: The Manila Bulletin, The Manila Times, Evening News, and the Manila Chronicle which was started by a group of pre-
war newspapermen in 1945 and became “The People’s Newspaper. It was then bought by businessman Don Eugenio Lopez, brother of then vice president
Fernando Lopez.

The Manila Chronicle (c) blogspot.com

The media monopolies began in this era, with the Manila dailies controlling the mass media. Advertising was the major source of the papers’ revenue during that
time. The small papers were ignored by the advertisers because of political pressures and lack of readers due to low literacy and incomes. They did not also
receive government support. So, the large publishers thrived but they were controlled by the advertisers’ interests.

III. Television

The television came to the Philippines in the 1950s and had its first official telecast in the Philippines in October 23, 1953.

Television was introduced with the opening of DZAQ-TV Channel 3 by the Alto Broadcasting System, which was the first station that opened in Manila. The
station was owned by Antonio Quirino, the brother of the incumbent Philippine president Elpidio Quirino.

DZAQ-TV Channel 3 operated on a four hour-a-day schedule, 6 PM – 10 PM and telecasts for only over a 50-mile radius. It was then bought by the Chronicle
Broadcasting Network.
Charlie Agatep, first program director of DZAQ-TV Channel 3
(c) charlieagatep.wordpress.com
 III. Post-War Era: Professionalization
These years were characterized by the emergence of journalism education, advertising, public relations, and the pioneer personalities in radio, newspaper and
television.

In 1952, the Lyceum University established a school of journalism. On that same year, the National Press Club was also formed “to promote cooperation among
journalists and uphold press freedom and the dignity of journalists.”

Lyceum of the Philippines Intramuros

(c) upload.wikimedia.org/

In 1954, The National Media Production Center (NMPC) was formed under the Office of the President. Its “builders” were Hernando R. Ocampo, Conrado V.
Pedroche and Gregorio Cendara. NMPC was mandated to produce information and education materials for government development programs.

In 1957, the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) was organized. According to PRSP, they were established with the mission of advancing the
practice of public relations by:
 uniting those engaged in the profession;
 encouraging continuing education of practitioners;
 generating public confidence in the profession by promoting high ethical practice and encouraging high standards of public service;
 playing the active role in all matters affecting the practice of public relations; and
 strengthening the relationships of public relations professionals with employees and clients, government at all levels, educators, with media and the
general public.

In 1960, the Philippine Women’s University also established a school of journalism.

 IV. Post-War Era: Conclusion

Liberation of Manila
(c) prisonphotography.files.wordpress.com

The liberation of Manila on February 3, 1945 meant the liberation of the press as well from the Japanese censorship. The post-war era started on 1946 until the
pre-martial law period. In a nutshell, the press during the post-war era became free again. However, during this time, the press was forced into a “marriage of
convenience” with large business enterprises and political groups; which is why the giant newspapers remained in the field. This kind of ownership structure
meant that the press operated mostly to support the publishers’ interests. Here, we can conclude that the press’ social impact was strong, especially that this is
when the media monopolies started.

Professionalism was also high during this era, with the establishment of journalism schools to train the youth and the formation of organizations for the
journalists as evidences.
Reference:

Fernandez, D. (n.d.). The Philippine Press System: 1811-1989. Philippine Studies, 37(3), 317-344.