PHILIPPINE journalists were devastated again after the closure of the predominantly English-language media outlet CNN Philippines on January 29, 2024, approximately 3 years after the closure of the giant broadcasting company ABS-CBN.
“It is with great intensity that we share the difficult news that we will halt news production operations due to severe monetary losses,” CNN Philippines President Benjamin Ramos said in a message posted through one of his reporters on X, formerly Twitter.
“Thank you for providing us with fair, accurate and balanced information. You have rightly earned the acceptance of Filipinos and we sincerely thank you for that,” Ramos told the company’s employees.
CNN Philippines, which began operations under the leadership of Nine Media Corporation (NMC) on March 16, 2015, reportedly suffered losses of more than five billion pesos ($88. 5 million).
The local franchise holder company, however, assured that it will provide “severance packages” to its 300 workers and talents.
“This is very saddening news because aside from the country losing a source of news due to the closure of CNN Philippines, it will also result in the losses of jobs to many employees,” Tacloban City-based journalist Roel Amazona, 43, who worked as CNN Philippines stringer.
“Since 2017, I have been working with them as a news expert, providing regional reporting on Eastern Visayas. It is a privilege and an honor to work as a news expert for CNN Philippines and to work with their team on excellent coverage,” Amazona told Sunstar Philippines.
Stanley Buenafe Gajete, who previously worked for two years at CNN Philippines, also expressed his solidarity with his former colleagues.
“I am grateful and revered to be a part of this strong broadcast team in the country. A lot of learning. Mahal kita (I love you), CNN Philippines. A hug to all former colleagues,” Gajete said.
In another interview with Catholic news outlet UCA News, Gajete said that with the closure of CNN Philippines, Philippine media “are now becoming fewer and fewer. “
He admitted, however, that more and more people are “interested in social media” these days when it comes to their information resources.
“Changes in the media are inevitable,” he said.
Despite the shutdown of CNN Philippines’ operations, Gajete remained confident that the closure would discourage communication and journalism students.
“This closure of CNN Philippines is a major blow to media and data literacy in the country, especially as this nine-year-old network has demonstrated its ability to provide reliable and balanced data to Filipinos,” said Dr. Ulderico Alviola, CEO. Director of the University Integrated Media Center (UIMC) and Department of Communication for Development, Visayas State University, Baybay City.
“I think this is very unfortunate because SkyCable will also be shutting down its cable next month, which could result in the shutdown of some other reliable cable news channel, ANC,” Alviola added.
The Philippine Independent Journalists Guild, a new organization that works for fair management for independent Filipino journalists across the country, said the closure of CNN Philippines, one of the country’s largest news companies, “is a serious blow to our search for the truth. “»
“In an era of disinformation and disinformation, this recent progression not only harms journalism, but also the goal it purports to serve,” the guild said in a statement.
“We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at CNN Philippines in these trying times. We also encourage our fellow Filipinos to keep on supporting reliable news media outlets, in order for them to continue delivering truthful news that matters,” it added.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the largest media organization supporting the well-being of the Philippine media, also hopes that the company will “help its media employees during the transition and also hope that our colleagues return home. ” “profession as soon as possible. “
“The loss of the newsroom means a less reliable source of data for the public at a time when false data and erroneous data are the order of the day,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jing Rey Henderson, communications officer for Caritas Philippines, argued that the closure of CNN Philippines “is a regrettable blow to one of the country’s democratic spaces. “
“This closure also activates a critical mirror image about the resilience of media organizations to maintain their central role in informing citizens and maintaining democratic spaces,” Henderson said.
“This incident also reminds us to address the financial vulnerabilities that can compromise the integrity and continuity of the media organizations dedicated to truth, transparency, and public engagement. To CNN Philippines, thank you very much for your service to democracy and the Filipino people,” Henderson said.
On May 4, 2020, the Philippines’ largest media network ABS-CBN was padlocked after it failed to renew its franchise.
The closure led to the loss of livelihoods for some 11,000 ABS-CBN employees, amid the coronavirus disease pandemic that swept through those years.
In its profile of the Philippine journalism landscape, Reporters Without Borders, a global nonprofit organization committed to protecting the right to freedom of information, described the Philippine media as “extremely colorful despite targeted attacks and constant harassment by the government. . . ».
He also called the Philippines “one of the deadliest countries in the world for bloodhounds – most shockingly, 32 were massacred in the southern province of Maguindanao in 2009 – and impunity for such crimes is at an all-time high. “
Powered by Quintype