THE Presidential Communications Office on Thursday finally announced the launching of the government’s new tabloid ahead of its planned national broadcast of President Rodrigo Duterte’s TV show.
“Ladies and gentlemen, while the TV show is not yet ready, we are still preparing the studio in Malacañang. Please welcome the Mula Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa tabloid,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told reporters in Davao City.
Masa is to be published bi-monthly with an initial print run of 5,000 copies. It will be distributed free through the Philippine Information Agency, which is under the PCO.
The tabloid’s first issue will banner Duterte’s war against illegal drugs. It will have regular News, Opinion, Sports and Entertainment sections.
Andanar said Communications Assistant Secretary Mon Cualoping serves as the tabloid’s editor in chief, while Benjie Felipe serves as its associate Editor.
But academics raised concern over the lack of bylines and names in the staff box in printed publications, which “inhibits the feedback mechanism as media consumers have no way to reach out to the publication if they ever need clarification or have suggestions.”
“Among others, primarily readers’ not being able to hold the authors and publisher accountable and not being able to correct whatever errors may be in the articles,” said Luis V. Teodoro, former dean of the College of Mass Communication at the University of the Philippines.
“The staff box gives credibility to the publication since it proves that there are people who have ownership of what’s been published. Therefore, we have someone to take responsibility for the printed word. The absence of the staff box also implies that there is no one willing to take responsibility for the stories that are released for mass consumption.”
But Andanar said the Presidential Communications Office was “ready to face” any libel charges that might arise from any article published in the government paper.