Media’s leverage to level and liberate during election campaign

As I watched the news about a campaign for the upcoming elections in one of the developed countries, it was interesting to see how one media, obviously, sides with one party, while the other media favors its own candidate. It’s a wonder who is now the middleman?

In a society where popularity is vital to win the race for public office, it is understood that the aspirant for a position of interest must be popular. If media would only broadcast/cover national/local candidates who have paid for their ads, it is more likely that only those who can afford an advertisement—the rich, and those who have rich supporters would become popular and be reelected. It is more likely that those who have the popularity of incumbency and the ones working in media networks would retain/occupy the position. So what hope is there for a local and an aspiring leader who wants to be a senator? At what point should the public know the “must-know leaders” who served the nation well? What guarantee is there in handshakes to people throughout the archipelago in a limited period of legitimate campaign period with inadequate financial support? Would it be too great a sacrifice for the leading media networks to publish all the names of the senatorial candidates and their achievements/highlights squarely? Would it be too great a sacrifice for the press (at least in the online platforms) to appreciate and take time to evaluate and publish the potential “least of these” who has the same heart to serve as the wealthy and famous? When popularity is more likely the choice, who then is more updated on the facts other than the media? Who else has the filtering capacity, the balance views, and the capability to educate the public other than the press?

When the Senate and the House of Representatives convene, is there anyone fit to represent the poor who was able to finish the courses of the elites? Is there a seat spared for them in the legislative/leadership? While a province/district may be well represented in the lower chamber, would it make a difference to a local community when there’s such a senator who lives among them? Isn’t the distribution of resources and powers the key to decongest metropolitan cities (and from the traffic)? Is there any worthy representative of the people who had never seen a doctor in their lives, yet because of sheer study and honest labor received a scholarship, became presidents/leaders of their respective private and public organizations, private and state colleges and universities, and local government units? Where are the recipients of the leadership awards?

For those who have tasted a share of true public life with no expected returns, these can more likely relate with the many Filipinos who crowded themselves in the public transport terminals and markets; who walked as most men walked without fear of death; visible men who would be willing to train more young visionary leaders by example, develop more professional workers according to their gifts and talents … for all these … what possibilities lie in the arms of our media? While many heroes shed blood using guns and swords, one used a pen and tried to liberate a nation, and still one used the everlasting gospel to liberate all who would in the world (Revelation 14:6-12), and give the hope of resurrection and eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:51-58). Could there be anything more liberating and more uplifting than this?

Ham Geg G. Manggasang