Newspaper in the Philippines

Newspapers in the Philippines were highly influenced by Americans when they entered Manila Bay in
1898, this is the year when United States won its war to Spain. Record shows that one of the early
newspapers of the United States such as Bounding Billow was published on board by Dewey's Flag Ship,
this an early attempt to "civilize" the Filipinos after the US-Spanish war.

During that time, American journalist in the Philippines characterized the natives as "little brown" soldiers
who will support the Americans or they can be warlike tribe who will devour each other when American
troops will leave the Philippine soil.

On that reason, Americans wasted no time in establishing a press system in the Philippines. The first
published English-Language newspaper that was established in October 1898 was the Manila Times. After
two years, H.G. Harris and Carson Taylor founded another influential newspaper which is the Bulletin. For
the next three years, the Bulletin was published free of charge; and it became a paid newspaper last
1912.

In 1917, the Manila Times was purchased by Manuel Quezon, but after four years Times joined the other
press holding of Alejandro Roces Sr. During that time Among Roces also owns different newspapers such
as Taliba, The Tribune and La Vaguardia.

Even though Filipinos love the principle of "freedom of expression", Philippine newspapers were subjected
to strict censorship during the American rule. Different news about movement against the presence of
American forces in the country were suppressed. Journalist that exercised the freedom of the press were
deported or imprisoned. Newspapers such as La Justicia, Cebuano and El Nueva Dia were suspended
because of their nationalistic views.

Senate President Manuel L. Quezon founded the Philippines Herald to present viewpoint of Filipinos to
fight for independence. In August 1920, staff members of the former Manila Times such as Narciso
Ramos, Antonio Escoda, Bernardo Garcia and Jose P. Bautista joined the Herarld. It was also on this year
that the first English-language women's magazine was published; Women's Outlook.

In April 1925, Among Roces also purchased the Manila Times and established the Tribune. With Mauro
Mendez as the editor-in-chief, the Tribune discussed topics such as misuse of government funds, the
advantage of English being the language of instructions in schools, peasant unrest, threat of communism,
etc.

After the Philippines was granted full independence, our local newspapers shifted their efforts in
writing about wrongdoings in our country. They have a very good intention but sometimes the news is
one sided and not substantiated. As time pass by, rich and elite families took ownership over these
newspaper.

In 1972 at the height of Martial Law by Ferdinand Marcos, the assets of these newspapers were
confiscated and were given to his "cronies" and close friends. Between 1972 and 1986, the newspapers
remained in “not so good” conditions.

The death of Benigno Aquino Jr in 1983 helped the Philippines to have a "freer and more independent"
press. Because of the threat of the growing dissatisfaction against the current regime, Marcos fled the
country in 1986. With the founding of the Commission on Good Government , assets of newspapers from
Marcos allies were confiscated. The press celebrated in regaining its freedom; some newspapers
were returned to their previous owners before the martial law .

During the 1990s, newspapers of all sizes, types and political perspective reached a number of 30. There
were also considered 14 tabloids that were written in Tagalog and Cebuano. Diversity can be seen on
these newspapers and four were published in Chinese.

According to the World Press Review, newspapers were grouped through circulation. There is dozen of
newspapers that were circulated between 100,000 and 300,000; there is also a dozen that were being
circulated between 50,000 and 100,000;three with circulation from 25,000 and 50,000;one having
10,000 and 25,000 and two were being circulated from 10,000.

By: Edmundo "Mon' David

http://www.pressreference.com/No-Sa/Philippines.html., retrieved on September 23.2008

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