MANILA - President Benigno Aquino III yesterday rallied journalists from around the country to practice professionalism, integrity and credibility in their reporting to help move the country forward, instead of pulling it down with negative and false news.

Speaking in Pilipino at the 16th National Press Forum of the Philippine Press Institute with the theme " Media Accountability and Public Engagement" at the Traders Hotel here, the president said if media continues to focus on what is negative poverty will prevail, but if it focuses on hope it will result in a more bountiful harvest for the country.

The president recalled a story of the Filipino crab. An American was drinking in a bar when a Filipino fisherman came in with a basket of crabs. He put down his basket and the American said “Buddy, your crabs are about to escape”, to which the fisherman replied "Brother, they’re Filipino crabs. Before they get out they’ll be pulled in,” the president said.

While our countrymen struggle for a better life, there are those who continue to try to pull the country down, he said.

The president stressed the need for media to be faithful to the truth, and to value credibility and integrity.

Has the principle “get it first, but get it right,” been replaced by "get it first, make sure the story sells, and if it is not right, say sorry later"? He asked.

He cited a headline in a national newspaper that read “Qatar’s Emir cuts short state visit”, which made it appear that he did not meet the Emir despite their having had a bilateral meeting and having signed agreements.

He also cited false news reports that he was on a date in Greenhills when at the time he was at National Economic Development Authority board meeting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. reviewing and approving projects for the benefit of the Filipino people. The television network that reported the dating story has a reporter assigned to Malacañang but did not even bother to get his side, the president said.

On the other hand the foreign media have been more positive in their reporting, he said, citing Newsweek that lauded the Philippine's stand to protect its territory against China , and Time Magazine in a photo caption that said : “The laggard of Asia is recovering the dynamism it had in the 1960′s.”

He said it is only in the Philippines where negative travel advisories issued by other countries against the country are played up. These travel advisories are issued based on the perception of foreign ambassadors living in the country but by playing them up, the Philippine media deters people from visiting the country to its disadvantage.

He noted that, as of February, more than 411,000 tourists had visited the country, a first in its history, and if this continues more than 4.8 million tourists will have visited the country this year, he said.

Aquino said his administration is targeting 10 million tourists a year before he steps down as president in 2016, which could easily be achieved if positive news about the Philippines takes precedence over the negative.

He also noted how carnapping made the headlines last year but when the head of the kidnapping syndicate, Raymond Dominguez, was convicted it was reported below the fold of the newspapers.

We are not asking that you make up stories to make government look good, but to help focus on stories that can uplift the lives of the Filipino people, he added.*CPG

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