Does public approval shape news? Competing legitimacies and news headlines in the Philippines from Ramos to Aquino III

Abstract

Can a president’s high public approval, vis-à-vis competing coordinate institutions, shape press coverage of political events? Testing theories of executive scandals, this paper argues that in the context of Philippine presidential democracy, presidential satisfaction shapes the production of political events more than the presence of other policy issues competing for broadsheet space. Using logistic regression models to analyse the news headlines appearing in two major broadsheets in the Philippines from 1992 to 2016, the study finds that presidents whose approval ratings are low compared to Congress are an easy target for the opposition and a much more attractive topic for sensational news by the press. With a much smaller circle of supporters for the president, there is also less risk for the opposition and the press collaborating or colluding in the production of political events. The press, in contrast, tends to be conservative in reporting political events when the public mood is generally supportive of the Philippine chief executive.

A Philippine Strongman's Legislative and Constitutional Reforms Legacy

“…The country's policy agenda therefore remains fragmented across administrations and is often undermined by the president's short-term political interests or the noisy political environment. Indeed, the Philippines is often described as a delegative democracy where the elected president is granted formal and informal powers to “govern as he or she sees it fit” (Mendoza and Panao, 2021; O’Donnell, 1994; Thompson, 2018). The absence of strong institutional checks, while strengthening the president's influence over the legislature, also renders the president vulnerable to political instability.…”

“…Public prestige, often measured through presidential approval, has been found to be a contributing factor to the president's ability to push for key legislation (Bond et al, 2003; Canes-Wrone and de Marchi, 2003; Cohen et al, 2000). Because legislators in the Philippines seek re-elections and anticipate the reaction of voters, they may be hesitant in going against a popular president (Mendoza and Panao, 2021). Meanwhile, professional reputation refers to how legislators anticipate the reaction of the president and how this can shape their careers.…”

Dalumat sa karanasan at pag-unawa sa pagbasa ng mga mag-aaral sa mga balitang politikal ng mga samahang pangkabataan

“…May mga headlines din na mapanlinlang at nagpapakita na may kinikilingang panig. Batay naman sa pag-aaral nina Mendoza at Panao (2021), isinasaalang-alang ng mga manunulat ang mga implikasyon ng mga balita sa politika at ekonomiya ng bansa.…”