Instructional Guide for Teachers

Understanding Culture, Society & Politics

Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

Author: Jean Encinas-Franco, PhD
More modules at https://sibika.ph/

Media plays a central role in the functioning of democracies. It is often called the Fourth Estate to stress its
significant role as a vanguard of the people against government excess. Countries that do not have free media
compromise the right to information are said to be undemocratic. According to Livingstone (1994), media is
important in presenting the political processes to the public. In a participatory democracy, the media is
responsible for disseminating critical information to the people.

Mass media refers to “a single communicator, or sender, and many receivers (e.g., an audience, readers,
viewers, etc.) receiving content through a particular channel” (Kawamoto, 2003). Before the advent of the
Internet, mass media consisted of the radio, television, newspapers, and films. However, the Internet and other
digital technologies have heralded the rise of ‘new media.’ Currently, definitions of mass media already cover all
information received via the Internet. Real-time access to information and immediate feedback that are enabled
by these new technologies have a huge societal impact. For this reason, what we know about the world is
largely mediated by what we consume in mass media. The huge presence of new media has even reinforced
this situation. Currently, radio and television programs can already be accessed via the Internet, thereby
broadening access to their content and providing people with a choice about the time and pace they wish to
watch them.

| Most Essential Learning Competencies

● Analyze the forms and functions of social organizations; and

● Explain the forms and functions of state and non-state institutions.

| Content Standards | Performance Standards

By the end of this module, learners are expected to By the end of this module, learners are expected to:
demonstrate an understanding of:
● Analyze aspects of social organization;
● Cultural, social and political institutions as sets ● Identify one's role in social groups and
of norms and patterns of behavior that relate to institutions; and
major social interests; and ● Evaluates factors causing social, political, and
● The agents/institutions, processes, and cultural change.
outcomes of cultural, political, and social
change.

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

| Self-evaluation Form (Part I)

Write words that you associate with ‘mass media’, gatekeeper, ‘watchdog’, and ‘agenda-setting’.

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

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 Instructional Guide for Teachers
Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

Lesson 1: The Roles and Functions of Mass Media

| Lesson Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the student is expected to be able to:

● Know the media’s functions and roles in society;

● Understand the role of social media and how it has transformed the media’s role;
● Develop awareness of current issues surrounding the mass media; and
● Apply knowledge about the media in promoting positive values in society.

| Key Concepts

● Mass Media - refers to one communicator which sends signals to multiple receivers.
● Gate-keeper - role of the media wherein content is filtered and then released to the public.
● Watchdog - role of the media wherein the outputs are transparent and critical information on public
officials.
● Agenda-setting - role of the media wherein the media contributes to shaping the context of government
policies.

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

● Agent of socialization - an institution which impacts on the social development of an individual.

| Study Guide

A. This is to provide a motivational activity to introduce the topic to the students.

Activity 1: Socialization and media exposure

Instructions. Fill in the following table:

Answer the following questions and discuss your answers with your seatmate:
● What type of media are you most exposed to?
● Why do you think you are most exposed to this type?
● What specific functions (divert, instruct, interpret, bond, inform) do your exposure to mass media serve?

Reflect on the following questions:

● Why is the mass media regarded as the fourth estate?
● What does it mean when the media acts as a gatekeeper of information? Give examples of cases that
you know about.
● How do digital technologies transform the way individuals acquire information?
● How important is the watchdog role of the news media?
● To what extent does the interpretation function of mass media heightened by the advent of
digitally-mediated new media?
● What are the limits and possibilities of new media technologies?

| The Functions of the Media

Mass media serves many functions. It informs, instructs, interprets, diverts our attention from other activities, and
allows us to bond with family or like-minded individuals (Communication in the Real World, 2016). When mass
media updates us on what is happening worldwide or in Philippine politics, it serves its information function. This
is important because, without this function, the general public will be unaware of the challenges and
developments in the rest of society and especially about how the government functions on a daily basis. Media
are necessary to inform and active citizens. Information that citizens need to know in order to participate actively

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

and competently in a functioning democracy are shared through various forms of mass media and, more
importantly, institutions of the press (those who produce news). Prior to widespread use of digital media, the
news media were able to communicate with the public through the professional conduct of journalism, that is,
collecting, verifying, fact-checking, understanding, analyzing, and reporting important news and current events.

This has changed significantly. The speed, almost real-time dissemination of information has led to immediate
reporting of information from not only journalists but also influencers on social media, bloggers, regular citizens,
and many others. Thus, audiences are exposed to sometimes inaccurate information, disinformation, and
misinformation from political state and non-state actors, all of which can mislead the public.

The news media have important functions in interpreting events for the public. Feature stories, analytical
articles, editorials, opinion columns, and commentary radio and television interpret the meaning of events and
share their views with the public.
Certain forms of media content are intended to educate specific audiences. These include children's shows with
educational content, programming with documentaries, cooking shows, health and self-help programs, etc.

| News Media’s Role in Society

Aside from the functions discussed above, the media, specifically those that deliver the news, has an important
role in democratic societies. These are as follows: gatekeeper, watchdog, agenda-setting, and agent of
socialization.

As a gatekeeper, the media, its practices, system, and ownership structure can impact what and when they
report the news. This means that they have much leeway in filtering the material that one gets to read or watch.
The reporter, the desk editor, the producer, the news director, and even the network or newspaper owner
determine which are newsworthy and which particular stories can be published. They make these determinations
based on established norms of news values, what do the public need to know in order for them to be active
informed citizens and what they need to know to preserve public safety. These include reporting on disasters
such as typhoons or earthquakes, reporting important political and historical events as they happen, or informing
the public about critical issues that are developing in other countries that may have impact on the Philippines..

The watchdog role of the media, helps strengthen public officials’ accountability to their citizens. Democracy is
anchored on checks and balances among the three branches of government, namely: the executive, legislative,
and judiciary, all three are State entities. The press or the news media are often called the Fourth Estate, the
external check on powers of the State.The media report on the actions and decisions of institutions of the
government and its officials, in large part to enable the public to hold them accountable for their actions and any
wrongdoing or abuses of power. For this reason, media freedom or freedom of the press are necessary for the
proper functioning of a democracy. Without the freedom to access information from the government and report
on it to the public, there would not be transparency and accountability.

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

In 2021, Maria Ressa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (Linao, 2021) for her work in fighting attempts to
suppress freedom of the press during the years of the Duterte presidency.

When mass media calls attention to a specific issue, it confers importance to the issue in the eyes of the general
public and by extension, to policymakers. This agenda-setting role of the media refers to its ability to help shape
the priorities and policies of the government and the public.

| Synchronous Activity

Activity: On Socialization and Media Exposure

Instructions. Discuss with your seatmate your similarities and differences in terms of media exposure from
the activity during the module introduction.

Step 1. Read the following: Philippine Statistics Authority. 2020. Latest Functional Literacy, Education and
Mass Media Survey.
Step 2. Discuss your response to the following questions with your seatmate:

● What does the survey say about disparities between urban and rural households and in terms of
mass media exposure? What about age disparities?
● What impact would these disparities have on socialization?

| Asynchronous Activity

Activity: Limiting Press Freedom

Instructions. Form into groups, and read on the situation of the media during the Marcos and Duterte
administrations.

Step 1. You may start with this one from Rappler: FAST FACTS: How Marcos silenced, controlled the media
during Martial Law
Step 2. Discuss: How can state control of the media impact the information released to the public, and why
do you think this is done by authoritarian leaders?
Step 3. Using a manila paper or a shared document, create a timeline of the events during the Marcos. Use
your creativity.

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

| Self-Paced Learning Activity (Optional)

Activity: Reflection on Online Game

Instructions. Play this online game: We become what we behold by Nicky Case.

Step 1. Discuss your experience with a partner using the following guide questions:

● Was there an instance where you found a piece of media (it can be a news article, a Facebook
post, or even a meme) that informed the way you perceived others?
● Would you still consume these types of media if the information presented were not as
sensational?

| Self-Evaluation Form (Part 2)

Answer the following questions.

1. After studying the lesson, update the conceptual map for the words mass media, gatekeeper, watchdog, and
agenda-setting below.

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

2. How will you apply the knowledge you have learned on the roles and functions of mass media in improving
Philippine society?
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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

| Rubric for Discussions

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

| Rubric for Creative Outputs

| References

Atienza, Maria Ela L. 2006. “Local Governments and Devolution in the Philippines”, Chapter 16. In
Philippine Politics and Governance: An Introduction, edited by Noel M. Morada and Teresa S.
Encarnacion Tadem. Quezon City: University of the Philippines’ Department of Political Science
with the support of the Commission on Higher Education.
Atienza, Maria Ela L. and Ferdinand C. Baylon. 2006. “The Judiciary”, Chapter 14. In Philippine Politics
and Governance: An Introduction, edited by Noel M. Morada and Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem.
Quezon City: University of the Philippines’ Department of Political Science with the support of the
Commission on Higher Education.
Caoili, Olivia C. 2006. “The Philippine Legislature: From Pre-Spanish Times to the Eve of Martial Law”,
Chapter 11; “The Philippine Legislature: The Martial Law Period”, Chapter 12; and “The Restored
Philippine Congress”, Chapter 13. In Philippine Politics and Governance: An Introduction, edited

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Module 7: Philippine Mass Media

by Noel M. Morada and Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem. Quezon City: University of the Philippines’
Department of Political Science with the support of the Commission on Higher Education.
Heywood, Andrew. 2019. Politics, 5th ed. London: Macmillan International and Red Globe Press,
Chapters 13-15, 17.
Philippines. 1987 Constitution.
Philippines. 1991 Local Government Code. Republic Act No. 7160.
Rebullida, Ma. Lourdes Genato. 2006. “Executive Power and Presidential Leadership: Philippine
Revolution to Independence”, Chapter 7; “The Executive: Martial Law, Constitutional
Authoritarianism, and the Marcos Administration”, Chapter 8; and “The Philippine Executive and
Redemocratization”, Chapter 9. In Philippine Politics and Governance: An Introduction, edited by
Noel M. Morada and Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem. Quezon City: University of the Philippines’
Department of Political Science with the support of the Commission on Higher Education.

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