Donna Mae Alaga 
Para sa malayang pamamahayag! ✊🏼
…We’re the press, of course, as we speak for truth, predators of conflicting interests be it in the political grounds or private sectors…
And just like that, with stringed phrases of fact, people of media and the press are stifled, let alone deprived of their voice to seek the truth, speak the truth, and be the truth.
How can we draw the line on what is the ‘truth’? That’s where journalists come in handy, which is an oversimplification, as they ensure “visibility of these issues” thus “promoting peace and democratic values worldwide” accoding to United Nations (UN).
However, the coast is not clear yet. With disinformation and misinformation ravishing the halls of media and other platforms where consumers could draw information from, this becomes a challenge to those independent press who rely on knowledge and scientific research methods. Unlike fake news peddlers who prey upon the public with their distorted version of what’s really going on, journalists are required to report with accuracy, timeliness, and comprehension while in the brink of multitude of threats. Ultimately, these cost their lives while on the line of duty.
To remind government to uphold their commitment to press freedom, last December 1993 the UN General Assembly proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day. It commemorates the opportunity to magnify how indispensable the journalistic work is amidst issues on climate change, looming economies, inequalities, land encroachment, among others.
Based on the strategy laid out by UN, as a community, we could advocate principles that promotes plurality, diversity, and viability of media, especially regional, local, indigenous, and/or community-based media.
Individually, we could grapple with media and information literacy with the help of government programs to navigate digital platforms as critical thinkers who engage in active conversations to create solutions on societal issues.
May this observation instill in us to put more values on journalists as they try to keep us informed and cognizant of the dynamics of our democratic societies.
Fight on, truth seekers or as the song rhymes it, “isigaw mo sa hangin, tumindig at magsilbing liwanag, liwanag sa dilim.”
