The Filipino Blogosphere: An Emerging Alternative Venue for Political Participation in the Philippines

By: Mary Grace P. Mirandilla (Philippines)



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The internet is increasingly being recognized as a powerful, alternative tool that can provide wider access to information and a forum for discussion of relevant political issues. Given the low barriers to entry and technical skills requirement, the internet, particularly through weblogs or blogs, is allowing people to engage in open debates and in-depth discussions about issues of socio-political relevance online. Although blogs are still used mostly as a personal diary/journal, news and information about public affairs are beginning to find their way in blogs. Despite having a small readership compared to subscription to traditional mainstream media such as television and the newspaper, blogs are quickly increasing in importance mainly because journalists, opinion leaders, and political elites read them. In a developing country with relatively low internet penetration, blogs have gained popularity through the blog feature of social networking sites. However, it was journalist blogs that first caught the attention of the public and which triggered a surge in the emergence of political blogs owned and maintained by individuals and informal groups.

In the context of the rising number, widening scope, and intensifying depth of political blogs, this study aims to determine the potential of the Filipino blogosphere as an alternative venue for political participation in the Philippines. In the process, it will examine the motivation of political bloggers, the political attitude of political blog readers, and the insights of concerned and informed stakeholders on political blogging. In the end, the study hopes to contribute to the scant resources on the effect of the internet to political participation in the Philippines, as well as recommend ways in which the internet can have more relevant and meaningful use for improved political participation and governance.

Research Question

1. What is the motivation of Filipino political bloggers?
2. What is the perception of blog readers of political blogs (as a source of news and information about politics; as a forum for open debate and discussion of political issues; as a venue for political participation)?
3. What is the political attitude of political blog readers and how is this related to the political blogs they read?
4. What is the potential of political blogs as a venue for political participation?

General Objective:
The study aims to explore the potential of the Filipino blogosphere as an alternative, open access information environment where in-depth discussions can lead to improved political participation and empowerment among blog readers.

Specific Objectives
As an exploratory study on Filipino political blogs, the study specifically aims to:

1. Determine the motivation of Filipinos who write and maintain political blogs;
2. Explore the ways in which blogs are used as a source of news and information and as a forum for open debate and in-depth discussion of political issues and public affairs;
3. Determine the political attitude of blog readers and analyze it vis-à-vis the political blogs they read;
4. Determine the potential of political blogs as a venue for political participation
5. Recommend ways in which internet resources such as blogs can have more meaningful use in improving political participation and governance in the Philippines.

Findings

The A-list Political Blogger Survey, carried out using a sample of 44 political bloggers,1 generated 30 eligible responses or a 68-percent response rate. The respondents were found to be:

• Mostly male, 25-34 years old, based in Metro Manila, college-educated, employed, and belonging to the upper socio-economic class (US$1,087 or above)
• Veteran internet users: use the internet everyday for at least 7 years, via broadband connection at home or at work
• Around 67% of the bloggers has no affiliation to a political group.

Almost all respondents (90%) consider blogging as “a form of participating in politics” and an activity that “has led to an exchange of ideas among other individuals inside or outside the blogosphere” (93%).

The most common political activity in the blogs is “announcing an event” (40%), which does not require much resource, initiative or result in conflict on the bloggers’ part. This is followed by encouraging readers “to contact a public official,” defined as a form of “complaining” (Kim, Wyatt, and Katz, 1999). No blogger reported posting a “paid advertisement for politicians,” although the FGDs reveal that bloggers often attended meet-ups with the May 2010 presidential candidates and writing about them.

Bloggers encourage readers mostly to engage in lawful activities, i.e., to “vote” and “attend a peaceful rally,” in equal frequency (22%). They also entice readers to engage in collective actions that entail making a political stand, such as “joining a protest rally” (18%) or “signing a petition” (18%). “Practice civil disobedience” (2%) was the least supported offline activity by bloggers.

By simple frequency analysis, the survey found that bloggers engaged in less political activities after they started blogging, except for working on a “campaign”, probably because the study coincided with the election season. Most bloggers (70%) felt that they were “much more” informed about politics, but are only “somewhat” sure about their influence in politics or political discourse. The FGDs, however, revealed that blog readers tend to look to bloggers who have established their online and/or offline credibility through the years.

There was hardly any change in the motivation for starting and continuing to blog. In terms of the combined top 2 ratings (“very much” and “much”), the top motivators were identified as those significantly higher than the others using Z-test on proportions at 95 percent confidence interval (CI).

The top motivators for starting to blog were to “keep track of their thoughts” and to “inform people about the most relevant” and recent information. “Keeping track of their thoughts” remained a top motivator of bloggers for continuing to write, but “formulating new ideas” was also a salient reason.

In response to the open-ended question, the most pronounced reason given was the bloggers’ desire “to express their thoughts and opinion” and “to keep writing.” The most consistent non-motivators were “to critique political opponents”, “to critique media”, “to earn money”—which coincided with the FGD data—and “help organisational cause”—as expected, since 67% of the respondents does not belong to any political group.

The Political Blogger Reader Survey was conducted using a sample of 313 political blog readers and generated 64 eligible responses or a 20-percent response rate. The demographic and internet use profile of the respondents were found to have significant similarities with those of bloggers. Respondents indicated that political blogs have encouraged them to “vote” (86%), “sign a petition” (73%), and “join a protest rally” or “join a political group/movement” (52%) in the offline world, and “to visit other websites and blogs” and “join a cause” online. In terms of political attitude, political blog readers manifested a high level of cynicism, which may be attributed to their age and to the blogs they read—most of which bloggers self-rated as “critical of government/politicians.” Political blog readers were found to be moderately politically efficacious, which could be a manifestation of their educational attainment but tempered by their exposure to, and understanding of, the ills of government and politics.

The expert interviews and FGDs revealed a common observation—that political blogs have yet to create any tangible macro-impact on how Filipinos view, and participate in, politics. Having only a small following—as attested to by the bloggers themselves—blogs only gain traction in the public eye once picked up by mainstream media (TV & radio). Politicians and decision-makers take notice of blogs only if their gatekeepers (staff, friends) are aware of them. Limitations, notwithstanding, political blogs have, over the years, gained some level of influence, particularly through “viral” posts—spread via social networking sites, like Facebook, and exposed by mainstream media. Informed stakeholders also agree that blogging is a supplementary means for citizens to: get more details about a particular issue, access in-depth analysis seen to be lacking in mainstream media, and share views with others online. These results suggest that political blogging among Filipinos, at this stage, is more about accessing updated information and discussion of varying opinions rather than encouraging citizens to engage in more political activities.

This is consistent with the blog readership survey, which pointed to “keeping updated” and “knowing other people’s views” as the most common reasons for accessing blogs. As a democratic tool, blogging serves as an alternative venue for political expression, which may be difficult or impossible in the offline world, and helps spread the word by function of online networks.

One interesting finding that is often sidelined, but revealed in the interviews and FGDs, is the negative side of political blogging. These are instances, for example, wherein bloggers and readers alike disengage from what can otherwise be an open and free political discussion and political expression due to the bickering and personal attacks lodged by some participants in the comments thread. The proposition to censure blogs is also seen as a relevant and critical issue, in line with two recent high profile cases filed against bloggers for allegedly encroaching on an individual’s privacy and smearing a government official’s reputation. Lastly, blogs are often criticized for lacking accountability, particularly, when they sacrifice accuracy for quick updates. This also brings up the issue of the need for a code of ethics, similar to what journalists follow.

PI’s Current Progress (To be made available soon)