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The Manila Times in a headline news article on August 25 titled "‘Sex escapades led de Lima to break law’," narrated the details of Duterte's speech in Taytay, Rizal. The president emphasized that it was de Lima's intimate affairs which led her to do corrupt acts.
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| The Manila Times, the oldest English newspaper in the Philippines |
The problem comes when the publication, similar to their August 21 headline article "Love affair led to corruption," sensationalized the president's sentiment on Senator Leila de Lima's "immoral" act and relationship with a married man.
As prescribed on the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics, journalists should:
Seek Truth and Report It
- Never deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information. Clearly label illustrations and re-enactments.
Minimize Harm
- Balance the public's need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness.
- Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.
Be Accountable and Transparent
- Expose unethical conduct in journalism, including within their organizations.
As prescribed on the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) Code of Ethics, journalists should:
- I shall not, in any manner, ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural, and ethnic origin.
Making a comparison between Manila Standard, The Daily Tribune, and the Manila Times, wherein the three publications had used the issue as their banner story, Manila Standard and The Daily Tribune attributed the name of the president to the quote, while Manila Times did not. Manila Standard and The Daily Tribune's title goes respectively as, "Rody hits Leila's 'sex escapades,'" and "Leila's 'sexcapades' got her in drugs matrix-Rody."
It is the responsibility of the media to open intellectual public discussions instead of resorting to gossip nor should the media be an avenue for public shaming and the devaluation of a person's image.
We suggest that The Manila Times evaluate their editorial board and come up with a solution to their recurring malpractices.
‘Sex escapades led de Lima to break law’
Rody hits Leila’s ‘sex escapades’
Leila’s ‘sexcapades’ got her in drugs matrix—Rody
‘Sex escapades led de Lima to break law’
Rody hits Leila’s ‘sex escapades’
Leila’s ‘sexcapades’ got her in drugs matrix—Rody
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