The state of Iloilo’s newspapers
How many daily newspapers can Iloilo support? This is a question that’s often asked as the local economy continues to grow, and the advertising market hopefully also expands. It’s no secret that advertising revenue is the lifeblood of any news organizations, be it a newspaper, radio station or television station.
Right now, the playing field for newspapers has gone down to just two: Panay News and The Daily Guardian. My former paper, SunStar Iloilo Daily, The News Today, The Daily Headline are barely making an impact on local readership and advertisers. The Daily Informer of Bernie Miaque has exited the arena.
No doubt about it, Panay News enjoys a big advantage in terms of stability and name. It’s been in circulation for nearly 30 years now. Publisher Danny Fajardo has literally built an empire with Panay News. It has its own building and printing plant. Its network of branches are extensive not only in Western Visayas, but as far as Cebu, Dumaguete and Manila.
The Daily Guardian of Lemuel Fernandez is the new kid on the block, but it has surprised everybody with its rapid growth over the last six or seven years. In this short period, it has put up its own printing plant, and its presence in the region rivals that of Panay News.
The others are sadly not performing good enough to warrant serious attention. The News Today has tremendous potential on the technical side, what with the giant Makinaugalingon Press as its bedrock. Its color printing capability is undoubtedly the best in the community, but the technical quality is not matched with editorial competence.
Still, all these newspapers continue to exist with the advertising revenue they are able to generate. This is solid testimony that the local market can support this many newspapers. Newspaper publishing is a bloody business; with the high cost of newsprint and overhead expenses, one needs plenty of cash to sustain its operations. The mere fact that these newspapers have survived this long is a manifestation that they are earning enough.
The challenge is how these newspapers can improve content and give the community a better brand of journalism. This will require more investments in people. Newspapers are products of creative talent. It’s not something that you can produce on the assembly line. You have to have good editors and reporters to put out an outstanding newspaper.
i feel sad that our local newspapers are a far cry in terms of editorial content from those in bacolod, cebu, and davao cities. i travel a lot, and i make it a point to read the local newspapers. in these other cities, even the appearance of the tabloids is outstanding. these are well-edited. there’s also plenty of content. it is my dream to see local newspapers that can rival the likes of sunstar cebu, cebu daily news, and the papers in davao.
noli555
August 28, 2008 at 8:08 am
noli555 is right. age or print quality is only part of a newspaper. what Iloilo newspapers should strive for is quality content. and newspapers in Iloilo thrive on rumors and chismis which are veiled extortion tactics. poor us because graciano lopez-jaena is an ilonggo. Ilonggo newspaper writers should preserve his legacy instead of lining their pockets with PR money.
say mo florenz h and danny f?
novie and rod dies-dies laughing (such travesty of journalism)
quraninshallah
August 28, 2008 at 9:15 am
despite the problems besetting local newspapers, there are a few young writers who have very promising future in journalism if given proper training and guidance.
these writers write from a proper context (no sensationalism), fair and balanced (multisourcing approach), think out of the box (they always ask how and why things happen) and are upright (they don’t sell their pens and pages to paunchy politicos).
we hope that these writers will pursue their career on the right path.
there is still hope for Iloilo somehow.
quraninshallah
August 28, 2008 at 9:24 am
tita boy,
hambal ni florenz four months ago nga badinggerci ka kuno mr. boy mihorada kg ang imu anak nga lalaki nga naga OJT dira is also badashhh..like father like son kamu… in short, your son is a ladyboy,bading like you.. nag rampa pa kamu sa SM…
palarihu lang kamu… i just heard that from florence H. she also told other people about her discovery…same is true sa duha ka anchor sa RMN, hambal sa chismis my relasyon sila nga duha thats why nga package deal sila pag saylo sa RMN…
siguro hopeless kana tita boy ky wala ka naka score sa tatlo ka guys…
novss77
August 28, 2008 at 2:12 pm
pasensiyahan nyo na lang ining si novss77, whose email address is . makaluluoy man. that’s the only remark he’s capable of posting again and again and again. in short, ang utok nya daw mongo lang kadako, hehehe.
Manuel Mejorada
August 29, 2008 at 3:12 am
i’ll pretend that the last comment from novs77 doesn’t exist. it doesn’t add to an intelligent discussion of the topic, so i’ll leave it there like wallpaper with factory defect, a reminder that in iloilo society, there exists intellectual pygmies pretending to be giants.
why can’t local newspapers attract talented young men and women to become reporters and editors?
i think part of the reason is that most of these young talents want to get into television and radio for the glitter and glamor. electronic media definitely has wider reach than print media. in an instant, the names of radio and TV journalists could become household names, and the popularity that the work engenders isn’t something that print media can match.
but print media carries more respect. writing is perceived as a cerebral activity, and being a writer carves a halo of wisdom and knowledge. writers have more depth. their thinking ability is sharpened constantly by the writing process. the lives of writers are also filled with romance and adventure. a writer is necessarily a thinker.
this last attribute is what led television giant abs-cbn to tap into the pool of print journalists to run its news organization. indeed, print journalists command respect. the likes of ricky carandang keeps a blog to put down his thoughts in written form. why does he do it? it’s a good way to crystallize issues, so that when he goes before the camera, he’s structured what he needs to say.
hence, radio and tv journalists can immensely improve their craft by doing writing on the side. electronic media often requires the reporters to get on with their work in a constant blur of rush. there’s often no time to pause and contemplate. the “why” and “how” of the story is overlooked.
writing provides that opportunity to pause and ponder. why did it happen? how did it result in a particular end? this provides perspective, and the good journalist should develop a broad perspective.
in the local radio industry, there’s only one broadcaster i know who does some writing in the form of a blog. that’s noel panes relatos of bombo radyo. if he keeps up on this, i’m sure he’ll reap handsome rewards down the line.
among local writers and editors, two upv graduates stand out: francis allan angelo, editor of the daily guardian, and david israel sinay of panay news and philippine daily inquirer. david started out in broadcast media and landed in print media. francis is also trying his voice through “the daily guardian on air.” i think this is a good mix, and would enhance their experiences and preparation for greater challenges as mediamen.
Manuel Mejorada
September 1, 2008 at 11:50 am
What have I done to deserve such kind words? Hehehehe
But these mean much for someone who tries to keep body and soul together.
scrimgeour
September 2, 2008 at 11:38 am
“Feel the fear, but do it anyway!”
thinking along this line reminds me of the media killings in our country right now and the it’s effect on our own ilonggo journalists. cud it be a reason why ilonggo journalists are wary to pursue the challenge of their career? or maybe one of the rationale behind Mr. Mejorada’s question: “why can’t local newspapers attract talented young men and women to become reporters and editors?”
maybe there is a very thin-line between fear and a(an) balance/objective journalism in our society right now. is the meager pool of our quality journalist apt to take up that challenge and turn things around here in Iloilo? are they courageous enough to even risk their lives on the line, for that pursuit of “telling a story”.
mshilario
September 2, 2008 at 1:55 pm
francis, don’t take that as undeserved praise. it’s a simple pat in the back to tell you you’re on the right track, and to keep it up.
Manuel Mejorada
September 2, 2008 at 9:14 pm
fear was always a baggage i had to carry when i was still active in media. but principled young men and women know no fear. or rather, they are able to overcome fear and pursue their ideals.
i began my career as a journalist during martial law, and back then, fear gripped the entire media community. i was fortunate because i got aboard the only credible and independent newspaper at the time — businessday. it nurtured in me a scorn for fear. fear of prison? fear of being killed? no, these didn’t scare us at all. we pursued the story every day, unmindful of the constant threats facing us.
i have not entirely lost hope of ilonggo media. there’s a new generation of young, principled and idealistic journalists taking up position in the trenches. it’s because of them that i feel motivated to be writing a lot of things about the media and planting the seeds of ethical journalism. as i can see from the blog stats, this blog is drawing an average of 70 hits every day. i know that most of these are media people interested in learning from an older and wiser man, hehehe.
i’m really serious about playing the role of mentor.
Manuel Mejorada
September 2, 2008 at 9:21 pm
dako gid akon paghanga sa mga mediamen nga ma-isog, nga wala naga-alang-alang sa pagsulong maski dalagko nga tawo ang ila enkwentro. diri ang kinala-in ni rhod tecson kag novie guazo, bangud sila ang nagapa-isog-isog pero sa pagkamatuod, matalaw. tan-awa nyo si tecson kag guazo. nagatira bala sila sa mga garin? nagatira bala sila sa kay tali salcedo? nagatira bala sila kay itik espinosa? nagatira bala sila kay rolex suplico? the answer? NO!
diskartidor
September 3, 2008 at 2:02 am
a big challenge for local publishers is how to raise the standards of our newspapers to the same footing as those in cebu, davao and cagayan de oro cities. i think this is not an entirely impossible task. all that is needed is to reposition local newspapers as to earn the support of the business community.
just look around: more investments are flowing into iloilo. the pace of development is robust. when there are new businesses, the need for advertising channels also increases. and advertising is where newspapers still possess a unique advantage — the power of permanence. that’s because a print advertising doesn’t vanish fleetingly the way television and radio spots do. a well-designed print advertisement will remain on the page as newspapers are passed from one reader to another. even when newspapers end up being used as wrapper for fresh fish in the wet market, its message continues to be propagated.
how to achieve that kind of customer confidence? our newspapers should devote more space and attention to business related issues. the business section of local newspapers should be an engine of growth and development. at the national level, there is more interest in business news. twenty years ago, the field was dominated by business world. now there is the business mirror to rival its grip on the market. even television is giving more time to business reporting. the success of bloomberg news on television is a classic example.
Manuel Mejorada
September 9, 2008 at 9:38 pm
This blog also reminds me of something. You see, I started being able to appreciate other’s opinion when one professor from college instilled on my mind the importance of choosing a good newspaper or reading materials. He said that the information we acquire from the materials we read is very vital to forming our own opinion. So it is very important to know that the writer of the article we are reading or the newspaper we are buying is not known to be prejudiced or biased. In short, not only is the writer of an article important, but also is the reputation of the newspaper. Hence, the content of the newspaper should be consistently of high quality enough to be at par with the rest of the provincial newspapers in the country.
So i’ll go back to the basics of reading a newspaper.
My reasons for buying a newspaper would be: firstly, i need an information about a specific news, or any pertinent news for that mmatter; secondly, i wanna read an opinion of someone else aside from mine about an issue, or any important issue; thirdly, i wanna be aware of what’s going on outside the comfort of my home; and lastly, I need a hardcopy for a clippings. For ordinary masses (endowed with less intelligence), one would buy a newspaper because: they need to know the latest Lotto result, or if the newspaper covered that murder/or expose which happened on/near their area, or if there is a (half)nude picture somewhere in the paper. For the jobless, it’s because they’re looking for a job. A few readers would buy a newspaper because they are looking for a good sale, or a good deal.
What our local newspapers lack? It is the lack to cater the needs of the readers. Or the needs of the majority of its readers. I don’t even know who is the majority now. Used to be the students, business people, and the professionals before. But this group of readers have the internet now. They can read newspaper articles online. They can even acquire a lot of opinions from blogs online. It’s easy. It’s free. It is even earth friendly.
So who is the majority reader of this present times? I’ll leave this question for the newspaper guru.
mshilario
September 10, 2008 at 2:59 am
“a big challenge for local publishers is how to raise the standards of our newspapers to the same footing as those in cebu, davao and cagayan de oro cities. i think this is not an entirely impossible task. all that is needed is to reposition local newspapers as to earn the support of the business community.”
I doubt Iloilo publishers could replicate the standards of community papers like those in Davao, Cebu or Cagayan De Oro…
airlanebastards
September 21, 2008 at 10:30 am
Iloilo is laden with talented writers. it’s only that they don’t find enough motivation and remuneration in writing.
i still believe that we could reach what other papers in other cities and provinces have achieved if only the community supports us.
a strong community support will motivate publishers and writers to resist “the daily curse of sameness” in news reporting and produce a newspaper Ilonggos can be proud of.
scrimgeour
September 21, 2008 at 12:35 pm
mshilario’s professor is right when he stressed that “the information we acquire from the materials we read is very vital to forming our own opinion.” if we read garbage, then our opinion is likely to be garbage. garbage in, garbage out. forming an opinion should be founded on accurate information and weighing all sides to an issue. it cannot be one-sided.
the biggest mistake most opinion writers make is that they can impose their views on readers without making an effort to dig deep on the issue for the facts. laziness is often the reason why opinion writers, and radio commentators, jump to conclusions without ascertaining the truth. this is an act of grave injustice to readers.
the major role of the opinion writer is supposedly to use his or her broader knowledge to guide readers on how to interpret events in this world. opinion writers are dime a dozen. but you can’t earn respect of readers unless you take this role very seriously and write only from a well-considered and researched point of view.
Manuel Mejorada
September 21, 2008 at 9:42 pm
since we are talking about the state of Iloilo newspapers, here’s one question worth pondering by newspapermen and bloggers alike:
in a digital world, do newspapers still matter and why? are newspaper folks an endangered kind?
i expect a string of comments and even debate on this…
scrimgeour
October 3, 2008 at 6:08 am
Despite the advances in digital technology, newspapers remain relevant to the lives of people. For many people, it’s a matter of tradition. There’s a different feel when reading the news on paper than the laptop or even the RSS feeds on the cell phone. But there’s a catch: newspapers have to offer more than the usual who-what-when-where-why format. There has to be more insightful analysis. There have to be illustrative graphs to simplify complicated issues. Newspapers have to take the role of explainer. Are newspapers ready for that role? The answer is yours to make.
Manuel Mejorada
October 3, 2008 at 12:52 pm
in several discussions on newspapers in a wired world, words such as “participatory,” “interactive,” and “democratic” have been used to describe digital technologies. Does it then follow than a technology less “participatory” such as a newspaper is inherently inferior? Not all experiences are improved by an increase of “participation” by audiences or users.
thus, we need greater vigilance especially toward our vocabulary, to the way words thought merely to describe a technology or a medium may also be implicit endorsements.
Newspapers offer more than just information. They organize the world each day in a coherent way, and even to choose not to read a particular article is to make contact with and become aware of another angle or perspective on the world.
there is an overtly political dimension to the role of newspapers. newspapers are traditionally independent political observers and their loss might be damaging to the function of a democratic government. We need to ask these questions as we enter and are carried into our digitized and networked future.
scrimgeour
October 4, 2008 at 2:19 am
No, I don’t think newspapers are inherently inferior to the emerging digital technologies that widen audience participation in the discussion of the issues of the day. In fact, the situation highlights the increasing importance of newspapers. If you have noticed, the Internet is becoming a super-newspaper — television and radio networks are also providing audiences with written content on the news they carry. This is a validation that the written word packs more impact and power than video and audio.
What this does is force newspapers to re-examine their content and march a step ahead of the emerging digital technologies to preserve its status as the molder of public opinion. It should now dive deep into the realm of “enterprise reporting” to unravel the nuances of stories and give readers a better understanding of why events are shaping up the way they do. TV and radio will beat newspapers if the latter focuses on the traditional five “Ws” and one “H”. Newspapers should shift the arena to where it is stronger — the in-depth analysis of issues to enlighten readers better.
Manuel Mejorada
October 5, 2008 at 8:12 pm