The result of this self-examination was what Marcos would later call the mosquito press which contributed immensely to the dictatorship s downfall. The present political crisis has also heightened public political awareness and anger at perceived distortions in the media. The criticism of a politicized and angry people, Coronel says, helps the press mend its ways. The citizens are very active in monitoring the media nowadays and are active in withdrawing support. She cites the case of TV, where many program have been forced to be a little more critical of the administration precisely because more and more advertisers support programs that are balanced, if not anti-Estrada.
Advertising nowadays is geared toward critical programming.
In case some honcho in the network refuses to air a program that is critical of the administration, an insider says, we would threaten them that the other networks had gotten the same story and we would be left behind. The threat of competition brought on by a more politicized public is keeping some media outlets in line. Now they are using stories more liberally, although Castro would require that we always get the other side. We can live with that, another ABS-CBN insider says. Now, the source adds, Castro is aware that many are watching him, and that the feedback from the public cannot be underestimated.