Who wins political media wars?
In the last few weeks there has been an escalation in volume and intensity in the political rhetoric in the country from all directions in both the main and social media. While Filipinos have always been politically boisterous people, recent initiatives and events in the DU30 government are getting reactions and counter-reactions from many sectors.
The P6 billion drugs that passed through Customs and the consequent Senate investigation on Customs corruption that dragged the DU30 family, the Marcos offer to return some of the plundered wealth, the withdrawal of the leftist alliance with the DU30 government, the deaths of young people in the drug war, and the P1,000 budget for the Commission on Human rights (CHR), are just some of the controversial issues that came about in the last two weeks.
For a politically aware society with an active main and social media, these were a lot to digest and form and opinion. The government's media bureau had to work double time in both media they were on the defensive in many of the issues. A lot of them were their own creation or their mishandling of the issues.
The current political spectrum, not in terms of ideology but in terms of pro-government and anti-government can be structured as follows: 15% are DU30 diehards, 15% are anti-DU30 diehards, 15% are uninformed lower class, 5% are uninformed upper class, and 50% are informed lower/middle/upper classes. There is no point in influencing the extreme 15% in both ends of the spectrum as no amount of information and persuasion will convert them. In fact, they are the ones spewing the extreme criticism and bashing of their opposite side. The main and social media contents that favor their side are lapped up by them, but this is like "preaching to the choir" for both sides for they are already on that side.
It is the 50% that have to be swayed. It is the 50% that will matter since they will be the majority that will make or break the government. The 16 million who voted for DU30 is 32% of the voting population and 16% of the Philippine population at that time. The governments objective should be to hold on to these percentages and add more to it. It seems however, that this government is stepping on very sensitive issues and incorrectly gauging political reactions. Partly it is their overestimation of the size and strength of the victory mandate, and partly due to the over eagerness of some of their supporters. Case in point, is reviving the Marcoses with the Libingan burial and bringing up the plundered wealth. Then the abuses in the war on drugs, and the P1000 budget for the CHR. These are all avoidable issues that could be done in better times and with more finesse. The Presidency is an enormous job and it needs all the competence and cooperation of everybody in the government and supporters. The extreme supporters and synchopants of DU30 are out of line and are not doing him a favor. It is when leaders start believing how great they are, that they get into trouble with a lot of help from misguided supporters.
Who are the winners in these political media wars? Tentatively and temporarily the extreme partisans on both sides are winners in terms of rewards from their patrons. Jobs, sinecure positions and monetary compensation may be secured. But depending on where the wind blows and the shifting fortunes brought by time, these may not last long.
The real winners are really the 50% that have to be convinced by either side, for the media wars will bring out all the relevant information and arguments for them to choose the right side and do the right things.
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