In democracy, the relationship between government officials and the media is paramount. The press serves as the watchdog of the interests of the public, to ensure transparency and accountability, and in the dissemination of vital information.
There are multiple instances, however, of deliberate erosion of media by certain privileged government officials, that they experience indifferent exclusivity. This poses a threat to press freedom, affecting the norms of conduct of public officials and democracy.
The essence of democracy lies in the free flow of information and the ability of media to hold powers that be accountable.
Yet, increasingly, because the media reported the truth, certain government officials adopt adversarial stance towards them that is much against the significance of the Fourth Estate's existence. Aren't the former suppose to be accountable to the people?
At one time — for a long time, in fact — because this publication witnessed and went ahead of a certain government office's official release, our media representatives were not only restricted access to information but there were obvious outright hostility towards us. This government office also excluded OpinYon from joining its press corps despite its credentials.
Such exclusion and hostility not only obstruct the media's ability to fulfill its watchdog role but also erode public trust in government institutions.
The exclusion of certain media outlets from press briefings, selective granting of access and, instead, disseminating false and sanitized information are symptoms of a broader trend towards absolute exclusion as a legitimate media entity. These not only undermine the principles of transparency and accountability but also create an atmosphere of distrust and division within society.
Moreover, the failure of government officials to embrace the inclusion of media as a democratic government's Fourth Pillar, undermines the fundamental right to freedom of expression and of the press. The press is repressed in performing its task, operate without fear of censorship, safeguard the public's right to know, and to conscientiously cater to an informed citizenry.
What if such officials serving the local community are designated to a national position?
Will they also be as privileged to repress information and try to suppress the national group of press and broadcast media covering them? Perhaps this was possible in the provincias and far south regions they controlled.
Can the powers responsible for their appointment to national positions tolerate their "spoiled-boy" power-tripping, prejudiced bigotry with the national media?
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