Media Ethics and Responsibility Archives

We will not surrender our freedoms

Today, Independence Day, we renew our pledge to serve the people, to continue speaking truth to power, and to guard and defend freedom of the press and of expression from all threats.

Covering the Pandemic

Covering the CoViD-19 Pandemic

The Silent Media

Native Advertising: Not just a Problem of One

Media points to politics underlying INC’s ‘Peace’ Rally

THE IGLESIA ni Cristo (INC) staged a massive "National Rally for Peace" on January 13, 2025, mobilizing an estimated 1.5 million participants in the grounds in front of the Grandstand in Luneta. The church gathered its members in different locations in the Philippines, including Cebu City, Davao City, and...

Ayuda: Pork barrel in new form

CHEERS TO TV5’s Frontline Pilipinas for its explainer that showed up financial assistance or “ayuda” as a new form of “pork barrel” – a practice that has been ruled by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional as it involves the legislature in the responsibilities of the executive department.

Taking lessons from COVID-19: Inquirer.net observes China’s “lack of transparency” on HMPV

CHEERS TO Inquirer.net for raising concerns about China’s “lack of transparency” about alleged cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) reported in in the country, recalling China’s lack of openness about the start of COVID-19 cases in 2019.

Lack of media attention on the “worst budget ever”

THE NATIONAL budget holds the key for effective government, an instrument that sets the priorities for development, for services and benefits for the people, including infrastructure projects for the coming year. It should involve intense deliberation on the part of executive and legislative officials.

The challenge of climate change to government and media

THE GLOBAL scale of the climate crisis has subjected vulnerable countries to even greater strain. For three consecutive years, the World Risk Index 2024 identified the Philippines as the “most at risk” to extreme natural events.

WPS in 2024: Media must shift to report on WPS policy under Marcos Jr.

FOR SIX years, Rodrigo Duterte cozied up to Beijing, claiming economic gains for the country as his purpose. But his conduct and statements reflected the vassal of Beijing that he was. Marcos Jr.’s policy shift has set this right in principle. He has pledged to protect national sovereignty and...

The POGO story as a political story

AMONG THE most prominent stories of the year, the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) showed up the weakness of the government's capacity to enforce the law and to protect national security. It is not at all that surprising, as the news narrative revealed the involvement of government officials...

Bizarre, Brash, and Brazen: Media fixated on Dutertes

NEWS CONVENTIONS favored the out-of-ordinary, including colorful, even outrageous personalities. The Dutertes’ political success relied on a tried-and-true news brand that gets more attention for simply standing out. Unfortunately, the standard has little to do with the qualities of public service and national leadership.

Looking back to move forward

CMFR has taken the short style, or the minimalist mode to fulfill this annual exercise, presenting brief reviews of four thematic concerns that were given the most prominence in 2024, the third year of the six-year presidential term of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.

Roque flees to UAE: Rappler shows up the fugitive’s route to evade the law

CHEERS TO Rappler for its report on the qualified human trafficking complaint against Harry Roque and how this would proceed now that Roque has fled the country.