The Effectiveness of the Political Institutions in Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Mass Media Practitioners

Abstract

This thesis examines the effectiveness of the political institutions such as the government, the laws and even the corporations in the promotion and protection of rights of mass media practitioners in the Philippines. This research is of utmost importance not only to the profession of mass media but also to the whole Filipino citizenry as well for it will tackle the culture of impunity that is very well present in the country. Recently, 32 mass media practitioners and media workers combined were killed along with other civilians in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. If not for the public clamor, the state would have done nothing to put the culprits behind bars. This sole incident made the Philippines the most dangerous place for a journalist in 2009. With the said status in 2009 and the fact that the Philippines is the second most dangerous place for a journalist next to Iraq if the statistics of journalist killings from 1992 to present should be considered, it is about time that a study should be done to see how effective the said institutions are in promoting and protecting the rights of mass media practitioners in the country. This study, upon the presentation of the status of rights violation of mass media practitioners, shall recommend what the political institutions ought to do to solve the problem. In this thesis, the institutional approach was used.