PPI Statement on World Press Freedom Day

In the age of AI and digital wars, how do we in media build trust? How do we uphold ethics amid a deluge of disinformation and deep fakes? And how do we perform our role as watchdogs during elections while fending off traditional threats and online attacks?

The Philippine Press Institute joins our colleagues in the industry in marking World Press Freedom Day with a renewed commitment to ethical journalism, which remains the bedrock on which the credibility and trust of the media stand.

At the core of ethical journalism lies the unwavering commitment to truthfulness and accuracy. Especially during elections when disinformation spreads like wildfire, the responsibility of journalists to verify facts rigorously is more crucial than ever. The duty to present truthful, unbiased information is not just a professional obligation but a moral imperative.

Our existing Media-Citizen Councils — all 10 of them across the country — act as watchdogs, not just for the media, but for the public interest. They also serve as a forum for addressing grievances and complaints, offering a platform for redress and providing a mechanism for individuals to voice their concerns about misleading or inaccurate reporting, mitigating the potential legal repercussions.

In the run-up to the May 12 midterm polls, the PPI denounces the continuous attacks on journalists and media workers.

We note the threats received by DZRH reporter Romy Gonzales from La Paz, Abra Mayor Joseph Bernos, who is running for a congressional seat in Abra.

Based on the blotter entry filed after the incident last week, Gonzales said he received a threatening message on Facebook Messenger from Mayor Bernos following his news report on a shooting incident in Tayum, Abra that resulted in a death and an arrest.

The PPI also strongly condemns the senseless and brutal killing of Johnny Dayang, a prominent media figure and former mayor of Kalibo, Aklan

This heinous act sends a chilling message to the press: that no one is safe, not even the elderly, not even those who have long retired from the daily grind of media work.

During election time when we have to wade through the campaign dirt to elect the deserving, all these challenges and threats both online and offline bring to the fore the critical role journalism plays in our society, as well as the efforts of our media-citizen councils for a stronger push for the protection of press freedom not just from journalists but also from community stakeholders.

Despite our shortcomings, journalism’s best defense against these threats is serving the public. Our media-citizen councils give us hope as the very communities we serve recognize the crucial role that media plays in a functioning democracy.