Media Ownership

Media ownership in the Philippines is a double-bladed sword that should be handled with utmost sensitivity.

It can be parlayed into power and influence which can be beneficial to the owner’s other businesses. On the other hand, it can attract malign intervention from those adversely affected by the media's role of informing the people the truth and holding those in power accountable.

Such interplay of business and power affects the quality of information the public gets. It is therefore important that the public knows who owns the media companies.

VERA Files’ research shows that even as media demands transparency from the government and officials they cover, a number of them resort to corporate layering that makes identification of real ownership a challenge.