The accelerating decline of traditional media — particularly print — is reshaping the Philippine news ecosystem, concentrating ownership and leaving entire regions without independent local news sources, according to a new study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
In a recent webinar, PIDS senior research fellow Dr. Ramonette Serafica and research specialist Queen Cel Oren presented findings from “Analysis of the Competition Landscape of Philippine Mass Media,” revealing how the rise of digital platforms has coincided with the steep erosion of newspapers and broadcast outlets nationwide.
Researchers said the shift is most visible in the collapse of local print media.
Rising production costs, shrinking ad revenues, and the steep investment required for digital transformation have forced many long-running community papers to shut down.
Even established institutions — including the Baguio Midland Courier — and broadcast newsrooms such as CNN Philippines have closed or downsized in recent years.
In Metro Manila alone, the number of newspaper establishments plunged from 76 to just 32, pushing the market into what PIDS describes as a “highly concentrated” environment dominated by a few surviving players.
The situation is worse in the regions: five areas now have no local newspapers at all.
“The decline of print and traditional outlets is accelerating,” Serafica noted, warning that digital expansion has not kept pace in many parts of the country.
Despite the growing dominance of online platforms — which captured 52% of all advertising spending in 2023 — the researchers stressed that digital media cannot yet replace traditional local reporting, especially in communities with limited connectivity.
This uneven transition has created “information deserts,” where local news sources disappear before digital alternatives can emerge.
“Even if market conditions and technology are changing, there still needs to be a source of credible news at the local level,” Serafica said.
The study also found that while digital platforms appear to offer abundant content, ownership remains concentrated.
Discussant Dr. Carlos Juan Vega of the Philippine Competition Commission cautioned that the proliferation of online channels can be misleading.
“You may have 20 stations or platforms, but just a few firms might own them,” he said.
As social media algorithms dictate what users see, large digital platforms gain more influence, pulling audiences — and advertising — away from traditional local newsrooms struggling to survive the digital shift.
Despite the challenges, the researchers said the transition offers opportunities for innovation if paired with supportive policies.
Among the measures proposed are easing foreign ownership rules, incentivizing regional digital news investments, strengthening freedom-of-information initiatives, and expanding digital literacy programs.
“Mass media is an important institution that supports markets and good governance,” Serafica said. “Supporting local journalism — and its digital transition — is essential.”
