Journalism during the Marcos dictatorship

This article is part of a series about Ferdinand Marcos
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Journalism during the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines—a fourteen year period between the declaration of Martial Law in September 1972 until the People Power Revolution in February 1986—was heavily restricted under the dictatorial rule of President Ferdinand Marcos in order to suppress political opposition and prevent criticism of his administration.^[1][2][3]

Hitherto considered the most prominent embodiment of press freedom in Asia,^[3] various Philippine mass media were shut down very suddenly in the early hours of September 23, 1972 when Marcos’ forces began enforcing Martial Law.^[4] The clampdown included 7 television stations, 16 national daily newspapers, 11 weekly magazines, 66 community newspapers, and 292 radio stations; as well as public utilities such as the companies running utilities such as electricity, telephones, and air travel.^[5] The most prominent television and newspaper reporters, publishers, columnists, and media owners were among the 400 people jailed in the first hours of Martial Law, with more arrested in Marcos’ dragnet in the succeeding days.^[6]

Newspapers owned by Marcos cronies such as Roberto Benedicto were the only ones allowed to publish in the immediate aftermath of the declaration, and media companies taken over by Marcos’ close associates became the dominant media outlets, eventually becoming referred to as the "crony press."

Journalists who evaded arrest went underground and came out with alternative publications such as Balita ng Malayang Pilipinas and Taliba ng Bayan. These were sometimes referred to as the "underground press".^[7][8] In later years, pressure from the international community and from the politically influential Catholic Church forced Marcos to allow publication of some newspapers critical of his administration, although Marcos ensured he could shut them down “just like that.”^[9] These publications were referred to as the “alternative press,” or because they were irritations Marcos could swat down with ease, the “mosquito press.”^[10][11]

Key turning points in the history of Philippine journalism in this time include:^[9] the establishment of WE Forum in 1977 and of Ang Pahayagang Malaya in 1981; the landmark coverage of the assassination of indigenous opposition leader Macli-ing Dulag; the Chico River Dam Project;^[12] the 1982 exposé of Ferdinand Marcos' fake military medals which led to the closure of WE Forum and jailing of its prominent columnists;^[9] and the 1984 murder of leading Mindanao journalist Alex Orcullo in Davao City.^[13]

Two radio stations – Radyo Veritas 846 and DZRJ-AM, disguised as "Radyo Bandido" – played a pivotal role in overthrowing Marcos. These non-government stations aired the appeal of Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop of Manila, for Filipinos to go to Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and prevent Marcos from killing the leaders of a failed coup attempt, and then keeping local and international audiences updated about the ensuing People Power Revolution.^[14]