Charles Teves
ABS-CBN reporter Warren de Guzman aired his grievances over the 70 lawmakers who voted ‘YES’ to deny the Kapamilya network a new franchise, leaving thousands unemployed.
Warren pointed out that ABS-CBN is the only network that compensates its employees, in particular the journalists, relatively well.
ABS-CBN is a beacon of free speech and free press because of one thing that is not stressed enough, ABS-CBN takes care of its employees.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
Warren acknowledged that ABS-CBN isn’t perfect, but the network takes care of its employees.
There are complaints, yes. There are labor issues, yes. There are bad eggs, yes. But ABS-CBN is still the only network that pays a living wage to its journalists, and that is certainly more true when compared to other local media networks.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
Since ABS-CBN offers better salaries, being hired by the company is a much harder process.
The competition to become an ABS-CBN journalist, to even work for ABS-CBN, is real and cutthroat because ABS-CBN salaries are far better than what other Filipino owned networks offer.
This is important.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
Warren says that the salary ABS-CBN journalists receive prevents them from being corrupt since they are compensated well.
A fair wage in journalism is a key deterrent against corruption. If journalists are paid and given their due, there is no reason for them to take money in exchange for ‘favors’. There is no avenue for the rich and powerful to influence the news.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
He thinks that the lawmakers did not like the ‘fair wages’ journalists were getting so they decided to shut down the network. ABS-CBN is known as a media giant in the country. As the late American singer Jim Morrison said it, “Whoever controls the media, controls the mind.”
These 71 lawmakers who denied ABS-CBN of its franchise voted against fair wages for journalists. Theirs was a vote against reporters who can say NO to virulent patronage practices, NO to institutional corruption, NO to ‘quid pro quo’, and NO to unethical practices.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
Politicians want to influence the news, but ABS-CBN reporters are not that easy because money isn’t that big of a problem for them since the network gives ‘fair wages.’
Theirs was a vote to strengthen THEIR influence on journalism, to allow THEM to dictate the news. Theirs was a vote to SILENCE independent reporting.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
There were probably negotiations between ABS-CBN and the lawmakers, but the network did not sell out therefore the shutdown.
They wanted to weaken journalism. They wanted to take away journalists' ability to stand on their own. These lawmakers want to stand before starving journalists who haven’t the strength to ask the right questions and to fight for the truth.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
This was easily a blatant attack on the free press, according to Warren.
They did this with no regard for the families that would starve alongside the men and women of ABS-CBN.
These lawmakers all voted to rob journalists of fair wages in a clear act of hostility against the free press. pic.twitter.com/Y8vRyIMjFM
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
ABS-CBN being shut down affects free speech, contrary to what the critics are saying.
The lawmakers who argue the ABS-CBN franchise is not connected to free speech and free press are either blind or stupid. ABS-CBN’s franchise was central to its ability to preserve the independence of journalists.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
ABS-CBN was basically protecting its journalists from being biased and turning corrupt.
ABS-CBN shielded journalists from the influence of the rich and powerful.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
ABS-CBN is no longer a threat to its competitors. The news will most probably be influenced by politicians, and there will be an increase in corrupt journalists.
Without a franchise, ABS-CBN can no longer do this.
Without competition from ABS-CBN, other local networks will have less incentive to pay their own journalists and employees well.
Without fair wages, journalists are more vulnerable to corruption.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
Vulnerable journalists make it easier for the powerful to get away with murder.
They just did.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
ABS-CBN has lost billions due to the shutdown, and things aren’t getting better. Ted Failon, along with other big name broadcasters have left the network in search of job opportunities.
