The fourth pillar of democracy is journalism or the media. It's a conduit between the government and the public, allowing citizens to learn about government acts, policies, and inefficiencies. The benefit of the democratic system is that it allows for freedom of expression and personal space. While the media is used to keep people informed about a variety of social, political, and economic activities, it also serves as a mirror to the world, reflecting both the true and painful truths of the world, because the media is generally trusted and people always trust truthful and honest news. The media are free to express their own views, but they must do so in editorials for the public to assess.
The unfortunate reality in the Philippines is that in the digital age, the uncontrolled propagation of false information has taken on a new form, posing serious challenges to democracy and media. Misinformation and disinformation are especially dangerous to deliberative democracy because they obstruct true and meaningful political dialogue. In the Philippines, several fraudulent identities are used to weaponize the internet in order to spread misinformation or affect public opinion. Individual journalists and media companies are also vulnerable to disinformation, as they are frequently accused of disseminating misleading information, or spreading fake news, as it is known in popular usage.
It's crucial to remember why the press is necessary. A democratic society cannot function without a free press.
Suppressing press freedom involves any action that stops the press from reporting truthfully, whether on television, in print, or online, as happened to ABS-CBN. Furthermore, the potential closure of the country's main media organization would result in job losses, making this a problem that affects all Filipinos, not just journalists. When a major threat like this looms over the country, the journalists should be called upon to unite. The media's existing system, in which we see each other as competitors, doesn't work, especially when we're all being attacked. When we're being shut down one by one, what good is brought by the competition? When the safety of journalists from all media outlets is jeopardized? The President is unconcerned about journalists' safety. That’s the reality.
By sharing our perspectives, ideas, and experiences with the general public, we create a dialogue about the government and what it does for its citizens. Our personal freedom of expression benefits the press, and it is our responsibility to defend our democracy if the administration continues to assault professional news companies. Simultaneously, ordinary people are being exhorted to take action to protect democracy. As a result, the possibility of citizen journalism emerges, in which citizens can participate in the transmission of journalistic values.
Losing press freedom means losing one of the last remaining comforts in a period of tyranny: the knowledge that even if the government isn't safeguarding its citizens, individuals are willing to put their lives on the line to speak out against injustice. Losing this is a victory for dictatorship, and the people must band together to prevent it.
Threats to journalistic freedom exist in the Philippines. It should not be dismissed as a prank, especially by those who pretend to be defending it while committing repression.
In the Philippines, any attempt to fact-check information provided by government agencies is viewed as an attack on the administration, with a journalist criticizing the government being labeled "biased." This is why, among other media outlets, ABS-CBN and Rappler have faced difficulties and closure threats, because fearless journalism is the last thing an insecure government wants. While it astounds me that they can still produce high-quality material in the face of new normal issues, it also saddens me that some media firms treat their employees unfairly. Every network or media organization's lifeblood is its personnel; without them, essential information would be unavailable to the broader public. Even in the midst of a pandemic, fair and sufficient remuneration is essential. Even after the network's franchise expires, our struggle for journalistic independence will continue. Because this is a communal fight, it affects not only ABS-CBN but all of the country's media outlets. Despite the pandemic, we will continue to work.
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