LOUSY ROQUE!

Despite strong criticisms, Sec. Harry Roque continues his “around the Philippines” escapade, violating his own government health rules and protocols.

Let me remind him of his “Official work” – to speak on behalf of the President Rodrigo Duterte …not act like a part time model, travelling in the middle of the pandemic.

Promoting the country? Let the Department of Tourism do that!

They say travelling helps you find yourself – well, maybe, just maybe, you find yourself and be reminded of your real job and your sworn position.

**

THANK YOU, NO MORE…PAY!

Lately, a number of complaints have been raised about the predatory practices of major media houses in acquiring news content, either visual or text.

The complaints range from asking not only for the free use of graphic content such as photos and videos, but actually acquiring the copyright to these materials, to what can only be called the “theft of the ideas” and even words of writers whose works end up as the basis of news articles and features, liberally embellished with quotes or whole passages without attribution to the original sources.

The end result is that these media houses earn from outsourced or even allegedly stolen content while the original creators are left with literally nothing, not even to reimburse the expenses they incurred or the right to continue using what they created in the first place.

And these are news organizations that earn millions, if not billions, of pesos in revenue and can surely afford to pay for content.

We do acknowledge that in the age of social media there is so much user-generated content, some of it are excellent, and that there are people who allow their work to be used gratis for many reasons, including altruism and the prospect of recognition.

While that may be perfectly fine if there is informed consent, we are afraid this has increasingly become an excuse to avoid paying content creators as well as to avoid properly compensating media professionals.

We demand that media owners and managers end this exploitation and degradation of the profession and its practitioners. At the same time, we call on media professionals to band together to push our right to just compensation and working arrangements.

We urge the stakeholders of media to sit down and discuss the resolution of these long-running issues with the view in mind of strengthening the industry while protecting the welfare of its workers.

**

MERRY 2020!

As we suffered so much pain and loss this 2020 due to pandemic, Christmas is here, once again, to remind us that life is beautiful.

Pain is a powerful teaching tool. It helps us focus on what really matters.

Loss can develop a good character.

This Christmas, let us all unite for the common good and new beginning.

Be thankful… because there is something big coming our way, very soon.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!