Considering the fact that media is dominated by families whose business empires are subject to government regulation, the most vulnerable part of the newspaper, with regard to its relationship with the government, is naturally the business interests of the owners and their advertising departments. In the case of the Manila Times, the Gokongwei family was pressured to sell their newspaper in July 1999 to a business group who are believed to becronies? of President Joseph Estrada after the paper published some highly critical report about the administration (Coronel,1998). .
The shaping of an individual choice is brought about by the press? influence. The press helps to form these decisions in our everyday life. (Hofilena, 1998). The strength of the media is so powerful that it can send a political or business skyrocketing upward or plummeting downward. Newspapers have historically shown power in bringing about revolutions, as in the case of the fall of the Marcos regime in 1986. Similarly, newspapers also have the power to create dictatorships, as in the case of the rise of the Marcos regime. Media can be used as a business and political tool, for the protection and assertion of interests. .
This paper aims to prove that newspapers are used as a means of protecting the interests of the Filipino elite, namely, politicians and big business owners of the country. This research will also involve tracing the historical and economical roots of this phenomenon. Historical references will include previous cases that show how the elite have tried and succeeded in manipulating newspapers throughout recent Philippine history. Furthermore, an economical perspective will refer to the relationship between newspaper ownership, advertising and the news content.
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According to Hofilena,Clearly, there have been unethical and underhanded attempts to influence the press? (Hofilena,1998). One well-known way to do so is to put pressure on journalists by pressuring their superiors, the media owners.
