Many Filipinos wake up to the sounds of music and news on a clock radio, wash and dress to shows like “Unang Hirit” and “Magandang Umaga Bayan”, read the morning paper over breakfast, commute to the blaring disco music of jeepneys, gossip with information from tabloids and talk shows, dine with the evening news, relax with prime-time television and doze to the strains of music on the clock radio. One recognizes the importance of the media in his everyday life. Television is today arguably the most powerful medium of communication. Its communicative influence is qualitatively different and is distinctively unique. However, with great power comes great responsibility. It is important for one to examine the ethical implications of such power.

In the Philippines, the coverage of sex crimes is one of the most problematic for journalists. Crime, of course, by practically any definition of news, is a matter of public interest, and the identities of crime victims are usually included in the accounts of these events. In heinous crimes the public has the right to know who did it and how it was done. It is the media’s responsibility to give the full story of the incident in order to be more effective in prompting the audience to take the necessary precautions to avoid being similarly victimized. But in cases of rape and other sex crimes the tradition among journalists is to omit the names and censor the faces of the rape victims unless the victims have been murdered or are well known. This is done in order to protect the victim’s dignity and reputation. However, the suspect is not afforded the same liberty. One can surely expect the male suspect’s name and face to be included in the report. This is done even before any court procedure has been initiated, let alone a verdict handed down.

For me, I think there are times that the Philippine media’s portrayal of rape suspects is indeed unethical. Their manner of reporting uses a double standard that is unfair and unjust, violating the ethical principle justice. In revealing the suspect’s name and exposing the state of his soul on camera, they are violating the ethical principle respect for human dignity.

Aside from the violation of the ethical principles respect for human dignity and justice, the legal standpoint also shows how the media can interfere with due process of law. In this sense it is unethical to sacrifice the rights of the individual for the greater good. It is unethical to sacrifice the suspect’s right to privacy and a fair trial. I found that it is enough that newspaper journalists are allowed to sit and observe without bringing their typewriter or laptop into the courtroom, the same information can still be broadcasted later on after the trial, not during it, thereby keeping the calm ambience.

Given that the media’s primary goal in reporting crimes is to warn the public and impress on them the necessity for precaution and prevention of the same incidence, information such time, place and modus operandi of the rape is sufficient in achieving this goal without divulging the names of either victim or suspect. The Philippine media would do well to follow the British media in order to avoid violating ethical principles. One can strike a compromise with the conflicting rights in question: the right to know and the right to privacy and a fair trial. Rather than naming them both, a more ethical solution would be not to name the victim at all, unless she has consented, and to not name the accused until the judge has determined that sufficient evidence and argumentation point to a possible conviction.

It is most important to be concerned about cases such as this. Since the media is a very powerful tool in influencing audience perception and shaping public opinion therefore as media users, we must be more vigilant and critical of the information peddled by the media. Drawing from these observations, it is imperative that people should be aware of the vulnerability of these rape suspects on the evening news. Because of their vulnerability, it is all the more important to protect and uphold the rights of the accused. Let us not be quick to judge them even if the media does portray them as evil predators. Like any citizen they should be given the benefit of the doubt.