THE CMFR MONITOR OF MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE 2010 ELECTIONS
GOVERNMENT TV COVERED TEODORO MOST, IGNORED BOTTOM DWELLERS
BROADCAST DISCOURSE ANALYSIS (For the Period Feb. 9-26, 2010)
Scope
The programs monitored were 24 Oras, Teledyaryo, and TV Patrol World. The programs 24 Oras (GMA7) and TV Patrol (ABS-CBN 2) are the leading early evening newscasts in the country. Teledyaryo is aired
over government-owned station NBN-4. The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
analyzed the programs from Feb. 9 (when the national campaign officially started) to 26.
CMFR analyzed the above programs’ reports on the presidential, vice-presidential, senatorial, and partylist elections. Reports about the elections in general, such as the country’s preparedness to undertake its
first nationwide automated polls in May, as well as election rules, were included in the monitor. Reports
exclusively about local elections were not.
The news programs reported the presidential elections most. As in print coverage of the first three
weeks of the campaign, most reports about the vice-presidential and senatorial candidates were limited
to short soundbites about various controversies or reactions to these by party spokespersons in behalf
of their presidential candidates.
The party-list elections were given minimal coverage on TV.
About four in every 10 Teledyaryo reports on the presidential elections were about administration bet
Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. However, it ignored other candidates in the coverage.
In its coverage, Teledyaryo also showed bias in favor of Teodoro.
Number of reports
From Feb. 9-26, less than a third of the overall coverage of these three programs was devoted to the
presidential, vice-presidential, senatorial, party-list elections and general issues about the campaign and
upcoming elections--299 out of a total of 1,028 reports/items, or 29.09 percent. Many reports were not
just on one category (for example, the presidential elections) but also on others (such as the vicepresidential or senatorial campaign) at the same time.
1
Number of reports*
1200
1028
1000
800
600
416
400
349
263
299
200
98 94 107
164
67 44 53
25 28 26
79
20 28 23
71
131
2 4 13 19
35 44 52
24 Oras
Teledyaryo
TV Patrol World
Total
0
Election-related
reports
Presidential
elections
Vicepresidential
elections
Senatorial
elections
Party-list
elections
Elections in
general
Total number of
reports (news
hole)
* Reports may have more than one category
TV Patrol had the most number of election-related reports (107) followed by 24 Oras (98) and
Teledyaryo (94). However, in proportion to their news holes—or their total number of reports aired
during the period—Teledyaryo aired more election-related reports (35.74 percent) than TV Patrol (30.66
percent) and 24 Oras (23.56 percent).
Clearly, the programs reported the presidential elections most (164 times). General issues about the
elections (such as fears of election fraud and election-related violence) took the second spot (131
times). The programs devoted almost equal coverage—if not far smaller compared with that of the
presidential elections— to the vice-presidential (79) and senatorial elections (71). As in print coverage of
the first three weeks of the campaign, most reports about the vice-presidential and senatorial
candidates were limited—over television, to short soundbites about various controversies or reactions
to these by party spokespersons in behalf of their presidential candidates. The parties’ platforms or
views on policy issues were hardly discussed.
Issues related to party-list elections are not important, at least based on the TV coverage in the first
three weeks since the national campaign started. The party-list elections were given minimal coverage
on TV (19 out of 299 election-related reports or 6.35 percent).
Placement
More than half (162 reports or 54.19 percent) of the election-related reports were treated as among the
day’s biggest stories and aired during the programs’ first half. About four in every 10 reports (42.81)
were aired during the second half. A small number (9 or 3.01 percent) were “banner” or lead stories.
2
Placement
350
299
300
250
200
24 Oras
162
128
150
100
50
52 60 50
3 2 4 9
98 94 107
43 32 53
Teledyaryo
TV Patrol World
Total
0
Banner/lead
story
First half of the
program
Second half of Total per program
the program
Subjects
Many reports were on more than one candidate or group as news subjects.
The Nacionalista Party’s Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. was the most covered presidential candidate with 74
reports (18.69 percent). Following Villar were administration candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro (59
reports or 14.9 percent) and the Liberal Party’s Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III (49 or 12.37
percent).
Former president Joseph Estrada was the fourth most covered candidate in terms of the number of
reports, although he was the top candidate in terms of airtime during the same period monitored
(36.29 minutes; See “TV news devoted more air time to Joseph Estrada during the first weeks of the
campaign”).
Villar, on the other hand, was not far behind Estrada in terms of airtime (34.51 minutes). Although
television devoted the most airtime to Estrada during the period monitored, he got fewer reports than
Villar. During the period monitored, Villar was a staple of primetime news, reacting to his rising survey
ratings and/or responding to various controversies such as his excessive campaign spending, his seeking
of endorsement by celebrities and religious groups, and his alleged involvement in the C-5 road
extension project controversy.
Other candidates were the subjects of fewer reports: Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon (39); evangelist
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva (35); Ang Kapatiran Party’s and Gordon’s nephew John Carlos “JC” de
los Reyes (33); and Sen. Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal (31). The least-covered candidates were
economist Jesus Nicanor “Nick” Pelas (23) and Kilusan ng Bagong Lipunan’s Vetellano “Dodong” Acosta
(11) who was later disqualified by the Commission on Elections after the period monitored.
3
During the period monitored, Teledyaryo completely ignored candidates such as Gordon, De los Reyes,
Perlas, and Acosta. About four in every 10 Teledyaryo reports (39.62 percent) on the presidential
elections were about Teodoro.
Some reports tried to move beyond the usual diary-type, straight-news reporting of the campaign. One
example was a 24 Oras report last Feb. 10 which tackled the Hacienda Luisita controversy, an issue that
has been consistently linked with Aquino, including the stock distribution option that was offered to the
farmers in 1988 in exchange for land ownership.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
1 Villar, Manuel Jr. "Manny" Bamba (NP)
2 Teodoro, Gilberto Jr. "Gibo" Cojuangco
(Lakas-Kampi)
3 Aquino, Benigno Simeon III "Noynoy"
Cojuangco (LP)
4 Estrada Ejercito, Joseph "Erap" Marcelo
(PMP)
5 Gordon, Richard "Dick" (B.Bayan-VNP)
6 Villanueva, Eduardo "Bro. Eddie" Cruz
(BP)
7 De los Reyes, John Carlos "JC" Gordon
(AKP)
8 Madrigal, Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" AS
(Ind)
9 Perlas, Jesus Nicanor "Nick" Pineda (Ind)
10 Acosta, Vetellano "Dodong" Seinez (KBL)
Total per program
24 Oras
Teledyaryo
27
15
15
21
32
23
74
59
17
8
24
49
18
5
19
42
3
14
11
39
35
9
33
1
11
31
53
6
1
150
23
11
396
25
21
24
19
17
10
193
TV Patrol
World
Total per
candidate
Among the vice-presidential candidates, Loren Legarda was the most covered candidate (24 reports)
while rival Manuel “Mar” Roxas occupied the second spot at 19. Their ranking in terms of reports was
consistent with their ranking in terms of airtime. Like some of the presidential candidates, TV programs
gave scant coverage of the lesser-known candidates. Teledyaryo did not report anything about vicepresidential candidates Bayani Fernando, Jose “Jay” Sonza, and Dominador “Jun” Chipeco Jr. during the
period monitored.
4
VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Legarda, Loren "Loren" Bautista
(NPC)
Roxas, Manuel "Mar" Araneta
(LP)
Binay, Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan
(PDP-Laban)
Manzano, Eduardo "Edu" Barrios
(Lakas-Kampi)
Yasay, Perfecto "Kidlat" Rivas
(BP)
Fernando, Bayani "BF" Flores
(B.Bayan-VNP)
Sonza, Jose "Jay Sonza" Yumang
(KBL)
Chipeco, Dominador Jr. "Jun"
Fuentecilla (AKP)
Total per program
24 Oras
Teledyaryo
TV Patrol
World
Total per
candidate
5
12
7
24
5
4
10
19
6
3
8
17
2
7
5
14
7
2
5
14
3
5
8
2
2
4
2
1
3
43
103
32
28
Compared with the coverage of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, the coverage of the
senatorial candidates—all 61 of them—were scant, and when it occurred, perfunctory.
Most senatorial candidates were covered primarily for their reactions to various controversies—usually
involving their presidential candidates. More often than not, their stand or opinion on various issues was
hardly solicited at all. A Feb. 19 TV Patrol report proved one worthy exception when it adequately
focused on reelectionist Juan Ponce Enrile’s position on the per-pulse billing rate for cellular phones.
Teledyaryo’s Feb. 25 report about a law authored by another reelectionist, Sen. Lito Lapid, also reported
the law’s salient features.
MOST COVERED SENATORIAL
CANDIDATES
1
2
2
3
3
3
4
Enrile, Juan Ponce "JPE" (PMP)
Estrada, Jinggoy Ejercito (PMP)
Querubin, Ariel "Marines" Oliva
(NP)
Bong Revilla, Ramon. Jr. "Kap"
Bautista (Lakas-Kampi)
Langit, Rey Magat (Lakas-Kampi)
Marcos,
Ferdinand
Jr.
"Bongbong" Romualdez (NP)
Lapid, Manuel "Lito" Mercado
(Lakas-Kampi)
24 Oras
Teledyaryo
TV Patrol
World
Total per
candidate
3
4
3
2
2
5
7
4
2
12
10
10
4
3
1
8
1
1
4
2
3
5
8
8
2
4
1
7
5
4
5
5
5
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
Tamano, Adel Abbas (NP)
Bello, Silvestre III "Bebot"
Hernando (Lakas-Kampi)
Defensor Santiago, Miriam Palma
(PRP)
Lim, Danilo "General Danny" dela
Puz (Ind)
Cayetano, Pilar Juliana "Pia"
Schramm (NP)
Remulla, Gilbert Cesar Catibayan
(NP)
Hontiveros-Baraquel,
Ana
Theresia "Risa H." (LP)
Lambino, Raul Loyola (LakasKampi)
Maza, Liza "Liza Maza ng
Gabriela" Largoza (Ind)
Recto, Ralph Gonzalez (LP)
Bautista, J.V. "J.V. Bautista"
Larion (PMP)
Biazon, Rozzano Rufino "Ruffy"
Bunoan (LP)
Drilon,
Franklin
"Frank"
Magtunao (LP)
Inocencio, Ma. Katherine "Kata"
L. Reyes (BP)
Mitra, Ramon "Mon-mon" Blanco
(NP)
Ocampo,
Saturnino
"Satur"
Cunanan (Bayan Muna)
Ople, Susan "Toots" Vasquez (NP)
Tinsay, Alexander "Alex Tinsay"
Britanico (BP)
Total per program
2
1
2
5
3
7
6
3
2
1
6
4
2
1
2
2
5
2
1
2
5
2
2
4
3
1
4
1
2
4
3
1
1
1
1
4
3
1
1
1
3
1
3
1
2
6
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
3
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
73
55
50
178
There was some coverage of the controversies involving party-list groups and their candidates,
especially those accused of being administration or opposition fronts. Some groups, such as Bayan
Muna, were also reported for filing disqualification cases against certain party-list groups that are
allegedly dummies of Malacañang.
Beyond the controversies however, not much coverage was given to the programs, if any, of the 187
party-list groups currently running, or whether they really represent marginalized sectors. Substantive
coverage of party-list candidates was absent.
6
This lack of serious coverage about the party-list elections, an appalling trend in the coverage of
previous elections, is at the expense of an electorate, the majority of which still does not know about
the party-list elections.
According to the January 2010 pre-election survey for party-list group preference by polling institution
Pulse Asia, nearly seven out of 10 Filipinos are “unaware” of the party-list system—even if the survey
was conducted just four months before the first nationwide automated elections. The Pulse Asia survey
found this low level of awareness despite Filipinos’ having voted for party-list groups five times since
1998, when the party-list elections were first introduced. Pulse Asia added that the current level of
awareness of the party list system is the lowest so far among the group’s surveys on the issue since early
2004.
PARTY-LIST GROUPS
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
Akbayan! Citizen's Action Party
(AKBAYAN)
Bayan Muna (BAYAN MUNA)
1-Aangat ka Pilipino (1-AK)
Ahon Pinoy (AHON)
Anakpawis (ANAKPAWIS)
Gabriela
Womens
Party
(GABRIELA)
Act Teachers (ACT TEACHERS)
Action League of Indigenous
Masses (ALIM)
Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE
KA)
Kabataan Partylist (KABATAAN)
Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz
(AMS)
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta
(PBA)
Total per program
24 Oras
Teledyaryo
TV Patrol
World
Total per
candidate
1
4
5
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
2
2
2
5
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
8
24
32
Themes
As in the coverage of previous elections, most TV reports focused on the campaign of the candidates—
their latest campaign sorties, their strategies, and day-to-day activities (116 times). Aside from being
repetitious, this logbook-type of reporting does not help inform the public about the issues in these
elections. Neither do they even come close to suggesting the reasons why the electorate should vote for
a candidate.
Issues such as the rules and regulations of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on campaign
spending or political advertisements were reported 51 times.
7
Themes*
Other Themes
9
64
27
28
36
89 19
12 8
5
26
2
9 15
28
6 10
12
15
1
14
Development/Policy issues
Civil society and elections
Personality
The “Arroyo factor”
Election-related violence/Peace and order…
Poll automation
Polls/Surveys
Contest/Horse race
Campaign Finances
Total per theme
51
12 19
20
29
8912
21
2 811
17
1 6 10
16
25 9
Other Comelec-related issues
TV Patrol World
Teledyaryo
24 Oras
116
31 38 47
Campaign Conduct
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
*Reports may have more than one theme
Development/policy issues were reported 36 times during the period monitored, but were insufficiently
discussed. Such reports often merely mentioned that the candidates, especially if in debates or special
programs, “discussed” issues related to development or policy (such as peace and order, the economy,
and agriculture) without substantively explaining or airing even the main points of these candidates’
“discussions” or their positions.
1
2
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
MOST REPORTED
DEVELOPMENT/POLICY ISSUES
Peace and order
Economy
Agriculture
Education
Platform and policy
Corruption
Landgrabbing
Health
Reproductive health
24 Oras
Teledyaryo
3
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
3
1
TV Patrol
World
1
3
1
1
1
Total per
issue
6
5
4
2
2
2
2
2
2
8
The three programs also reported other issues. Among the most reported were the endorsement by
celebrities of various candidates (14 times), the citizen journalism initiatives by ABS-CBN 2 (reported in
TV Patrol seven times), and efforts by various media organizations (such as ABS-CBN 2 and GMA-7) to
educate voters on this year’s elections and to help assure its integrity and transparency (seven times).
MOST REPORTED OTHER ISSUES
1
2
2
24 Oras
Total per issue
14
7
7
4
1
4
4
Aquino vs. Villar
2
EDSA People Power 1
2
C-5 road extension project
controversy
Incumbent officials running in
the elections
1
1
2
3
3
2
2
2
5
4
5
5
Bulacan gubernatorial row
1
Political endorsement/support
1
Manila Peninsula siege
Villar as Arroyo's alleged 2
"secret" candidate
1
2
2
2
2
5
5
Media coverage of elections
Disqualification cases
4
4
4
5
8
TV Patrol
World
1
7
4
3
3
Celebrity endorsement
5
Citizen Journalism
Media efforts on voters' 3
education/Media campaign for
clean and fair elections
Voters' education
Appointed officials running in 2
the elections
Teledyaryo
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
Sources
The most covered presidential candidate in terms of reports, Villar, was also the top source of
information on the presidential elections with 30 reports. He was closely followed by Aquino (27),
Teodoro (27), and Estrada (25).
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AS
24 Oras
SOURCES
Presidential
Villar, Manuel Jr. "Manny" Bamba (NP) 16
Aquino, Benigno Simeon III "Noynoy" 16
Cojuangco (LP)
Teledyaryo
TV Patrol
World
6
1
8
11
Total per
candidate
30
28
9
Teodoro, Gilberto Jr. "Gibo" Cojuangco 14
(Lakas-Kampi)
5
8
27
Estrada Ejercito, Joseph "Erap" Marcelo 15
(PMP)
2
8
25
2
5
3
17
17
Madrigal, Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" 8
AS (Ind)
7
15
De los Reyes, John Carlos "JC" Gordon 6
(AKP)
5
11
Perlas, Jesus Nicanor "Nick" Pineda 7
(Ind)
Total per program
106
3
10
Gordon, Richard "Dick" (B.Bayan-VNP)
12
Villanueva, Eduardo "Bro. Eddie" Cruz 12
(BP)
16
58
Legarda and Roxas were the most quoted vice-presidential candidates as well.
VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AS
SOURCES
24 Oras
Legarda, Loren "Loren" Bautista (NPC)
2
Roxas, Manuel "Mar" Araneta (LP)
3
Manzano, Eduardo "Edu" Barrios 1
(Lakas-Kampi)
Teledyaryo
4
3
Binay, Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan (PDP- 2
Laban)
Yasay, Perfecto "Kidlat" Rivas (BP)
3
Fernando, Bayani "BF" Flores (B.Bayan- 1
VNP)
Sonza, Jose "Jay Sonza" Yumang (KBL)
Total per program
2
14
1
TV
Patrol
World
Total per
candidate
2
5
2
8
8
6
3
5
1
3
5
4
2
8
16
Backgrounding
About three in every five reports during the period monitored (182 out of 299 reports or 60.87 percent)
provided some background information on the issues they reported. About 38.47 percent (115 reports)
lacked background information. Two items did not have background as they merely flashed the faces of
candidates onscreen.
10
Background
350
299
300
250
24 Oras
182
200
Teledyaryo
150
115
99
100
50
46
33
50
98 94 107
TV Patrol World
Total per candidate
61
8
2
2
0
Yes
No
N/A
Total
Slant
An overwhelming majority of the reports was neutral. Out of 299 reports, 234 (or 78.26 percent) were
considered neutral. Only 48 reports (16.05 percent) had a positive slant, while 18 (6.02 percent) had a
negative slant. Teledyaryo had the highest number of slants in terms of frequency (31 positive and eight
negative slants) and in terms of proportion to the total number of election-related reports (41.05
percent)
Slant*
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
299
234
8298
12 4
24 Oras
31
8
Teledyaryo
Positive
96107
95
56
48
18
5 6
TV Patrol
World
Total
Negative
Neutral
Total per program
*Reports may have more than one slant
Teledyaryo unabashedly showed its bias to administration bet Teodoro (13 times).
POSITIVE SLANT (CANDIDATES)
24 Oras
Teledyaryo
TV Patrol
World
Total per
candidate
Presidential
11
Teodoro, Gilberto Jr.
Cojuangco (Lakas-Kampi)
"Gibo"
13
Villar, Manuel Jr. "Manny" Bamba 3
(NP)
Estrada Ejercito, Joseph "Erap" 4
Marcelo (PMP)
Villanueva, Eduardo "Bro. Eddie" 1
Cruz (BP)
De los Reyes, John Carlos "JC"
Gordon (AKP)
Vice-presidential
Roxas, Manuel "Mar" Araneta (LP)
1
Manzano, Eduardo "Edu" Barrios
(Lakas-Kampi)
Senatorial
Lapid, Manuel "Lito" Mercado
(Lakas-Kampi)
Estrada, Jinggoy Ejercito (PMP)
1
13
2
2
7
1
1
6
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
Villar received six negatively slanted reports from all three programs (2 in each) while Aquino received
three negatively slanted reports from 24 Oras (one) and Teledyaryo (two).
NEGATIVE SLANT (CANDIDATES)
24 Oras
Presidential
Villar, Manuel Jr.
2
Aquino,
Benigno
Simeon
III 1
"Noynoy" Cojuangco (LP)
Acosta, Vetellano "Dodong" Seinez 1
(KBL)
Teodoro, Gilberto Jr. "Gibo"
Cojuangco (Lakas-Kampi)
Vice-presidential
Roxas, Manuel "Mar" Araneta (LP)
Binay, Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan
(PDP-Laban)
Party-list
Kabataan
Teledyaryo TV Patrol Total
per
World
candidate
2
2
2
6
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
12
13