World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is celebrated yearly on May 3 in recognition of the fundamental human right to free expression and press freedom. Every May 3rd is a reminder for everyone to reflect on the issues affecting journalists and media practitioners around the world — among them media ethics and responsibility, safety, and the culture of impunity — as of equal relevance to every citizen as they are to journalists.

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared World Press Freedom Day in 1993, following the recommendation of the 26th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) General Conference in 1991.

UNESCO has chosen the following themes for this year’s observance: “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law”

CMFR hopes that our digital platform will provide more information on the role of the media in social and national development and will encourage citizen engagement in the discussion, if not the resolution, of these issues.

A Report by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR),
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP),
Philippine Press Institute (PPI), and
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)

RODRIGO R. Duterte’s presidency has altered and controlled the public discourse so radically in its favor in ways rude and bold. Its tragic result: it has restricted and narrowed the celebrated freedom of the Philippine press and the people’s cherished right to know.  

In his first 22 months in power, Mr. Duterte has earned the dubious honor of logging 85 various cases of attacks and threats on these dual values that the Constitution upholds as inalienable rights of the citizens. The number far exceeds those recorded under four presidents before him.

Separately and together, these 85 cases — murders, death threats, slay attempts, libel, online harassment, website attacks, revoked registration or denied franchise renewal, verbal abuse, strafing, and police surveillance of journalists and media agencies from June 30, 2016 to May 1, 2018 —  have made the practice of journalism an even more dangerous endeavor under Duterte.

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