Philippine bloggers and ‘influencers’ can apply for presidential press passes
Criteria for presidential press accreditation is that the blogger or social media influencer is a Filipino, aged over 18 and has more than 5,000 followers
Bloggers and other social media “influencers” who have more than 5,000 followers will be eligible for official press passes to cover Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, his aides said Thursday.
The announcement caused a stir with some journalists in traditional media, amid a debate in which pro-Duterte bloggers have been accused of spreading “fake news” particularly in relation to the president’s drug war that has claimed thousands of lives.
The government said giving bloggers presidential press accreditations reflected the new media landscape in which social media personalities were competing with traditional institutions such as newspapers.
“We have to recognise new media and their influence,” assistant presidential press secretary Kris Ablan said.
He said Margaux “Mocha” Uson, an influential blogger liked by more than five million people on Facebook who heads Duterte’s social media office, would oversee the accreditation process.