Business journalist and ANC anchor Warren de Guzman recognized how ABS-CBN values its employees especially journalists and said that it is the reason they deliver unbiased journalism.
De Guzman took to Twitter his points regarding how ABS-CBN’s care for its employees affects their competence and efficiency.
“ABS-CBN is a beacon of free speech and free press because of one thing that is not stressed enough, ABS-CBN takes care of its employees.”
ABS-CBN is a beacon of free speech and free press because of one thing that is not stressed enough, ABS-CBN takes care of its employees.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
He also said the though there are some labor issues and complaints against the network but, it cannot be denied that ABS-CBN compensates its employees well far from the minimum.
It is also the reason there is a tough competition before being hired as a journalist for the media network.
There are complaints, yes. There are labor issues, yes. There are bad eggs, yes. But ABS-CBN is still the only network that pays a living wage to its journalists, and that is certainly more true when compared to other local media networks.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
“There are complaints, yes. There are labor issues, yes. There are bad eggs, yes. But ABS-CBN is still the only network that pays a living wage to its journalists, and that is certainly more true when compared to other local media networks.”
The competition to become an ABS-CBN journalist, to even work for ABS-CBN, is real and cutthroat because ABS-CBN salaries are far better than what other Filipino owned networks offer.
This is important.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
“The competition to become an ABS-CBN journalist, to even work for ABS-CBN, is real and cutthroat because ABS-CBN salaries are far better than what other Filipino owned networks offer. This is important.”
De Guzman then stated that well-compensated journalists deliver fair news without allowing rich and powerful people to influence their coverage.
A fair wage in journalism is a key deterrent against corruption. If journalists are paid and given their due, there is no reason for them to take money in exchange for ‘favors’. There is no avenue for the rich and powerful to influence the news.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
“A fair wage in journalism is a key deterrent against corruption. If journalists are paid and given their due, there is no reason for them to take money in exchange for ‘favors’. There is no avenue for the rich and powerful to influence the news.”
The business journalist then slammed the Congressmen who voted for the denial of the ABS-CBN franchise as he believes that it is also a denial of fair and just reporting.
These 71 lawmakers who denied ABS-CBN of its franchise voted against fair wages for journalists. Theirs was a vote against reporters who can say NO to virulent patronage practices, NO to institutional corruption, NO to ‘quid pro quo’, and NO to unethical practices.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
Theirs was a vote to strengthen THEIR influence on journalism, to allow THEM to dictate the news. Theirs was a vote to SILENCE independent reporting.
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) August 31, 2020
“These 71 lawmakers who denied ABS-CBN of its franchise voted against fair wages for journalists. Theirs was a vote against reporters who can say NO to virulent patronage practices, NO to institutional corruption, NO to ‘quid pro quo’, and NO to unethical practices.
“Theirs was a vote to strengthen THEIR influence on journalism, to allow THEM to dictate the news. Theirs was a vote to SILENCE independent reporting.”
During the ABS-CBN franchise hearing, many employees spoke about how the company treats them and the benefits they are getting be it contractual or regular workers.
They said that ABS-CBN treats them as a family which is true with their label as “Kapamilya”.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has also cleared ABS-CBN from the alleged labor issues confirming that the media giant treat their employees well.
However, despite this good treatment of ABS-CBN to its employees, Congress still decided to refuse its bid for a franchise renewal, forcing the network to retrench most of its employees amidst a pandemic.
