It was the last day of our Journalism class and the last day of our Junior year in college.  Our professor decided to make it an open session, where we could ask any questions and he would do his best to answer.  As expected of Iskos and Iskas, there were thought-provoking inquiries, with the hopes of changing the world for the better.  There were funny ones too, but mostly we were idealistic, looking forward to making a positive mark in Philippine media in a year or so.

As the open session wrapped up, the professor said it was his time to ask a question – and his was: “What’s your price?”

Quick history lesson: during the Martial Law, the Marcos regime was promoting “developmental journalism”, which was widely seen as a strategy to stifle criticism. However, those in the know instead coined the term “envelopmental journalism”, as the “strategy” included bribery of journalists to control the media narrative.

My professor confessed that while difficult, he and his friends decided to hold the line, but he knew many who had fallen into this trap.  In asking the question to a group of wide-eyed students, he was probably expecting a resounding no.  But I am sorry to say the answers did not come as fast, nor as firm.

Because while Martial Law had ended by the time we entered college, and a decade or so has passed, envelopmental journalism was still very much around.  In fact, even to this day the distasteful practice has survived.

My career took me down a different path from mainstream media, but my professor’s reminders that day stuck with me throughout my professional years.  Here are 3 of them that we all can learn from, whether you are in journalism or in another field.

Nip the bud 

 It usually starts small.  Maybe a free meal, or an unexpected gift.  Then it becomes a trip, a designer item, gift certificates until it’s just cash changing hands.  They target everyone, hoping one day their bribery will come in handy.  If you don’t want to play their game, you need to draw the line so they will be warned.  And if they try again, be firm and say no.  

Bribery has ears 

Once you take something, you’ll find more coming and not just from one direction.  That’s because by taking the first gift, you already set a price tag on yourself.  It’s a small world where people talk so with that one gift, you’ve been marked as open so they will keep coming at you, and each offer sweeter than the last.

You’ll pay a higher price 

 Media pay is still one of the lowest which is why the industry is vulnerable to bribery and corruption.  Sadly, by being known as someone who is on the take, you are actually paying a higher price.  You’ve sold your credibility, sold your media too, and even tainted the people around you.  And there may be no going back.  You cannot kowtow to one interest and then write an expose on another.  

On election time, my professor’s question continues to be relevant.  As we cast our votes anew to elect national and local leaders, did we put a price tag on our selection?

Do you know that if you sold your vote, you will pay a higher price later on?  That road construction from your house to your work will cost more than it should.  Public healthcare can lose its budget as it gets redirected to others’ pockets.  Cartels will ensure our rice, our fruits and our vegetables will become more expensive, while our farmers become poorer.  

So nip it in the bud because bribery has ears.  If people around you know you have a price tag, you’ll be tempted.  And if you cave in, you just agreed to pay a higher price for the sold vote later.  By giving in, you’ve given up on us too, and surrendered our future to the wrong hands.