Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

STATEMENT:

THE AUTHOR argues that the media uses stereotypes of victims and offenders in the way it tells rape stories and shows scant regard for the privacy of sexual assault victims. The media reports rape cases in a sensationalist manner as part of an adversarial judicial system where it is the defense lawyer’s job to discredit the victim and defend the rapist.

PROPOSAL FOR PUBLICATION

IMPLICATIONS: ETHICAL GUIDELINES AND MEDIA PRESENTATION

MODES: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS AND ARCHIVAL REPORTS

RESEARCH DESIGN: CONTENT ANALYSIS

SUPPORTING PROCESS: CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS, PRINT CRITICISM, CROSS CHECKING

SUBJECT: Reporting on Rape - Media Coverage Content Analysis

ASSUMPTIONS:

The sensationalist reporting of rape by the media contributes to the following:

Under-reporting of rape to police and hides the real causes of rape in our society.

Detrimental to the part of the victim and cause harm and damages to his life.

Simplifying “violence against women” and rejecting human rights.

Diminish the possibilities of the rape case to be solved.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

This content analysis will suggest the following:

Understanding violence against women in terms of sexual assault.

Understanding the media’s presentation and it’s culpability on handling stories of rape.

Ethical guidelines in reporting rape.

MATERIALS OF ANALYSIS:

RAPE CASES:

High profile rape cases according to Supreme Court and Publications: The Chiong rape case and Jalosjos rape case

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Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

July 16, 1997

Marijoy Chiong, college beauty queen, raped and killed

Jacqueline Chiong, raped  (disappeared)

The Supreme Court sentenced to death on February 3, 2004 the following suspects:

Francisco Juan "Paco" Larrañaga, a scion of the influential and powerful Osmeña clan

Jozman Aznar, whose family owns a hospital and a school 

Rowen Adlawan

Ariel Balansag 

Alberto Caño

James Anthony Uy, one of the seven suspects, was spared from the death penalty because he was only 16 at the time the crime was committed

James Andrew Uy, older brother of James Anthony, was originally sentenced to death, but was downgraded to life imprisonment after the court found out that he was only 17 years old when the crime was committed. 

Jacqueline and Marijoy were waiting for a ride home when they were forced into a car at about 10 p.m. on July 16, 1997 at the Ayala Center Cebu.

The sisters were brought to a house in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, where they were raped. Then they were brought to Sitio Tan-awan in Carcar town, about 40 km south of here, where they were again molested.

Marijoy's badly bruised body was found in a ravine in Sitio Tan-awan a day after the abduction. Jacqueline's body remains missing to this day.

Jalosjos case

1996 11-year old girl, raped Zamboanga del Norte Congressman Romeo Jalosjos was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two counts of statutory rape and six counts of acts of lasciviousness.. 

The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's decision sentencing Jalosjos to two reclusion perpetua. He was also ordered to pay the additional amount of P50,000.00 as civil indemnity for each count of statutory rape and acts of lasciviousness. 

The SC also increased to P50,000.00 the award of moral damages for each count of acts of lasciviousness. . 

Statutory rape case. 

Archives: Printed news articles of broadsheets: Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Manila times and Malaya and tabloids: Bulgar, Tempo and Abante from July 16-19, 1997; July 16-20, 1996.

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Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

PROPER:

I. Introduction

1. Rape and its presentation in the Philippines.

2. A quick view of the high profile rape cases in the Philippines.

3. Prelude to analysis.

II. Overview: Media Coverage on Jalosjos and Chiong Rape Slay Case

1. A review of the two stories.

2. Print media and its coverage.

3. News juxtapositions and public views.

III. Conceptual Analysis: Critical Discourse Analysis of Van Djik and Focault

1. Physical Presentations

Headlines/ typography

The leads

Frequency of reports published

News features and specials

Presence of Pictures

Page locations

2. Content and Textual Analysis

Presentations/Framing

Contextual Background

Mechanical Accumulation of facts etc.

Implications/Images portrayed

IV. Relational Analysis: Backdrop of the Problem; Rape and Sexual violence

Rape and Sexual assault defined

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Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Issues, stories of rape

V. Ethical Dilemmas and its Effects

Sensationalism

Conflict of Interest

Sex and Violence

Media Spectacle

Showbizfication

VI. Media’s culpability explained and its dangers - Foreign and local studies

VII. Ethics on rape reporting

1. CMFR guidelines

2. Foreign media guidelines

3. Cross-checking

VIII. Why do the media resort to this?

The role of the press; review and explained

IX. Conclusion

X. Bibliography

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