We join our fellow Filipinos in celebrating the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize given to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitri Muratov.
We applaud the Nobel Committee’s recognition of the courage not just of these two journalists but of so many others who speak truth to power “in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.”
As Filipino journalists, we are concerned about the fragile state of press freedom in our country, especially as the 2022 elections draw near. The climate for independent reporting is fraught.
Lawsuits have been filed in an attempt to silence our colleagues. ABS-CBN, the country’s largest broadcast network, has been shut down. Frontline journalists, many of them just in their 20s and 30s, bear the brunt. They are moving targets for death threats, insults and unrelenting trolling.
The pandemic has made access to information and to officials particularly challenging. Financially, news organizations are hurting. Politically, their legitimacy is under attack. But so many soldier on, bringing fact-based news and opinion in the belief that truth-telling matters, even in the era of lies and disinformation.
Press freedom in the Philippines is resilient and enduring. This resilience was forged over time, from the struggle against colonial rule, the tyranny of authoritarianism and the challenges of democracy. Filipinos have defended press freedom because they know it is their right and that their hard-won democracy cannot thrive without it.
The coming elections will be a battle between truth and lies. As journalists, we promise to remain true to the standards of fact-based and ethical newsgathering. But we are outnumbered by professional public relations staffs and troll factories. We alone cannot fight the deluge of disinformation in an election where the future of our democracy is at stake.
We, therefore, call on all those running for public office to make clear their stance on press freedom and to be transparent about their public relations efforts. We ask political campaigns to respect the rights of journalists to report freely, without fear or favor. Before his death, Jose Luis Gascon, the late chair of the Human Rights Commission, proposed a Media Safety Unit. We endorse this proposal and hope that the new chair of the commission will be true to its mandate to safeguard our human rights.
We call on social media companies to make their platforms safe for journalists.
Finally, we ask the public to support a free press and journalists who expose lies and stand up for truth.
MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS
AGE Communications
Aklan Press Club, Inc.
Altermidya – People’s Alternative Media Network
Aninaw Productions
Asian Center for Journalism
Bicol Express News
Bulatlat
Calbayog Journal
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Daily Tribune
Dampig Katarungan
Davao Today
Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network
Impact Publishing
Kodao Productions
Manila Today
Mindanao News Express
MindaNews
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-NCR
Northern Dispatch
Paghimutad
Panay Today
Panaysayon
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Philippine Press Institute
Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines
Pinoy Media Center
Pinoy Weekly
Pokus Gitnang Luson Multimedia Network
PositivelyFilipino.com
Radyo Asenso 106.7 Farm FM
Rappler
REGINA – University of the Assumption
Samar Daily News Online
SamarNews.com
The News Room Philippines
Tudla Productions
UPLB Perspective
VERA Files
Women Writers in Media Now
INDIVIDUALS
Al Alegre, Consortium on Democracy & Disinformation
Alfredo Ruzol, ABS-CBN News Digital
Amalia B. Cabusao, Mindanao Times
Angel Ayala, Bicol Express News
Angel Tesorero, Gulf News (UAE)
Ann Lourdes C. Lopez, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication
Annie Perez-Gallardo, UP Cebu
Ara Eugenio, Reportr (Summit Media)
Arlene Pingol Mariposque, GMA 7 Dubai UAE
Ariel Sebellino, Philippine Press Institute
Ashley Martelino
Aubrey Delos Reyes, GMA Network, Inc
Balbino “Ka Bino” Guerrero Jr
Bart Guingona
Beatrice Puente, News5 Digital
Ben Balce, Mindanao Gold Star Daily
Bernard Testa
Bert Basa, Philippine Daily Inquirer (former correspondent)
Bess Angelina Zamora, Philippine Press Institute
Bhal Cabrera
Caesar “Bong” Z. Lacson, Punto! Central Luzon
Carolyn Arguillas, MindaNews
Carmela Fonbuena, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Catalina Ricci Madarang, Interaksyon
Cherry Mae Salazar, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Chi Liquicia, VERA Files
Chit Roces-Santos
Chris Pagulayan, Photojournalist Center of the Philippines; PRESS Photographers of the Philippines; PLAY Outdoors Media
Christa I. De La Cruz, SPOT.ph
Christian Deiparine, Philstar.com
Cora Lucas, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Dana Batnag
Danilo Araña Arao; Bulatlat, Kodao and Pinoy Weekly
Dante Dapitan
Daphne Rashid-Tadeo, REGINA-University of the Assumption
Denison Rey Dalupang, Philippine Daily Inquirer
DJ Yap, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Doming Sacote
Ed Lingao
Edwin P. Galvez, BusinessMirror
Elena Pelari
Elmer Valenzuela, PonD News Asia
Ezra Acayan
Felipe F. Salvosa II
Felix D. Cuntapay Jr., Balitang Hilaga news correspondent
Felix Espineda, Jr., Bicol Express News
Floreen Simon, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Francis Allan L. Angelo, Daily Guardian
Franco Luna, Philstar.com
Frank Cimatu, Baguio Chronicle and Cordillera News Agency
Gab Humilde Villegas, Daily Tribune
Gaea Katreena Cabico, Philstar.com
Gang Badoy Capati
Gemma Nemenzo, PositivelyFilipino.com
Glenn Ray Roluna
Hector Lawas
Ian Cigaral, Philstar.com
Inday Espina-Varona
Isabella Perez-Rubio, Philstar.com
Jane Uymatiao (blogger)
Jeline Malasig, Interaksyon
Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News
Jester Delos Santos
Jimmy Domingo, Journalism Studies Assocation of the Philippines
Jo-ann Maglipon
Joanna Aglibot, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Joel S. Mataro
Joey Natividad, Bicol Express News
John Bello, Opinyon Quezon
John Nery, Rappler
John Ray Luciano
John Reczon E. Calay
Jonathan de Santos, NUJP and Philstar.com
Jonnel Pelari
Jose Ma. D. Nolasco, Philippine Daily Inquirer (retired executive director)
Joseph Edward Dela Cruz, REGINA-University of the Assumption
Josephine M. Mendoza
Julie S. Alipala, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Kara Magsanoc Alikpala
Katrina Hallare, OneNews.PH
Katrina Ventura
Kenneth Roland Guda, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Kristofer Purnell, Philstar.com
Leilani Chavez
Lita Jane Cadalig, Baguio Midland Courier
Lourdes Escaros
Luis Liwanag
Luis V. Teodoro
Ma. Ceres P. Doyo. Women Writers in Media Now
Ma. Diosa Labiste
Marchel Espina, Digicast Negros
Maria Karina A. Bolasco
Maria Lolita S. Lachica, Independent Documentary Producer
Marian Pastor Roces
Marites D. Vitug, Rappler
Mark Ernest Famatigan, UPLB Perspective
Martha Teodoro
Melinda Quintos de Jesus, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
Mia Noelle Rodriguez
Michael Navarro, Mindanao News Express TV
Michelle Zoleta, Quezon Chronos Publication
Minerva Z. Arceo, Pampanga Press Club.
Mona Lisa Yuchengco
Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, Women Writers in Media Now
Nicko Talavera, ONE News PH
Noemi L. Dado
Patricia Baes, Spot.ph
Patricia Lourdes Viray, Philstar.com
Paulynn P. Sicam, Women Writers in Media Now
Perfecto Caparas, Pinoy Publiko & Pressenza
Peter J. G. Tabingo, Malaya
Pia Regalado, Reportr.World
Prinz Magtulis
Raffy Lerma
Raffy Tima
Rameses Javier Casten, Ram Speaks
Ramon R. Tuazon
Ramon Royandoyan, Philstar.com
Raymund B. Villanueva, Kodao Productions
Red Batario, Center for Community Journalism and Development
Renz Sumalinog
Rey J. Garcia, The Mindanao Observer
Rhovin Luke Maglaqui, Philstar.com
Ricky Bautista, Samar Weekly Express and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
Ricky Rivera, Impact Publishing
Rigie Malinao, Samar Daily News Online
Rizal Raoul Reyes
Robert Jaworski L. Abaño, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Roby Alampay, PumaPodcast
Rochit I. Tanedo, Women Writers in Media Now
Roel Hoang Manipon, Daily Tribune
Romidor Gloriane, Bicol Express New
Rommel Lopez, PressOne.ph
Rosette Adel, Philstar.com and Interaksyon
Rowena Paraan, ABS-CBN
Roy Narra, One News/One PH
Ryan Christopher J. Sorote, DYWC TeleRadyo – Negros Oriental
Sean Rafio, Daily Guardian
Shawn Yao, ONE News PH
Shayla Pereyra, College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Sheila Coronel, Women Writers in Media Now
Sol Juvida
Sonia Capio, NUJP Nueva Ecija
Sonny Fernandez, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
Ted Aldwin Ong, peoplesdomain.net
Tess Bacalla
Therese San Diego Torres
Tita C. Valderama
Tonette Orejas, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Tony La Viña, PinoyMedia Center
Vergel Santos
Villamor C. Visaya Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer and Luzonwide News Correspondent Publishing
Vince Jacob A. Visaya, The Manila Times and Luzonwide News Correspondent Publishing
Virgilio Cuizon, TFC NEWS
Xave Gregorio, Philstar.com
Yvonne T. Chua, University of the Philippines