The impending closure of two networks at the time of the pandemic – ABS-CBN, and The Visayan Daily Star – is a “great loss to the local media industry”, the Negros Press Club said.
The Negros Press Club is saddened to hear the news about the temporary closure of The Visayan Daily Star in Bacolod City by August 31, 2020.
The NPC, through its President Glazyl Masculino, described the closure of the two outlets a “ very difficult moment for the media industry”.
Earlier, Congress denied the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN, leading to closure of their regional network groups, and the cessation of operations by September, with 31 August as the last broadcast date.
Today, 30 July 2020, the VDS announced that it will temporarily close its operations by end of August.
“At this time when media is much needed for critical and reliable information, may it be digitial, print, television or radio, we are challenged by the circumstances that greatly affect journalists and other media workers, who tirelessly do their jobs amid the threat of COVID-19. Many of our colleagues will soon lose their jobs,” the NPC said in a statement.
The NPC also called for unity, as it called other media practitioners to “keep our faith as we continue to fulfill our goal of giving the public the service it deserves”.
“We may be experiencing dark skies today, but we are hopeful, and we will keep praying that these media outlets will soon rise again,” the statement added.
