Philippine media under attack: Press freedom after two years of Duterte

Summary

The transcript explores the growing tensions between Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's administration and the media. It highlights a series of attacks, threats, and legal actions taken against journalists and media organizations that have reported critically on Duterte’s policies, particularly his controversial war on drugs. The narrative touches on the weaponization of social media to discredit journalists, the spread of misinformation, and the rise of online harassment. Despite these challenges, the press continues to resist, with journalists standing firm in their commitment to report the truth, even amid threats of violence and death.

Takeaways

• 🗞️ The Philippine media is facing a new normal of antagonism from the government, with a record of 85 cases of attacks and threats against the press.
• 🔍 Nine journalists have been killed, and there have been numerous libel cases, online harassment, and intimidation tactics used against media personnel.
• 📰 The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the newspaper with the largest circulation, has been a primary target of public attacks by President Duterte.
• 📺 President Duterte has threatened to block the franchise renewal of the country's largest TV network, ABS-CBN, accusing it of swindling and bias.
• ⚖️ The government has used legal means such as revoking licenses and accusing media outlets of libel and tax evasion to suppress critical voices.
• 💬 Social media has been weaponized to target journalists and spread disinformation, with terms like 'fake news' and 'prostitute' being used to discredit them.
• 🌐 Foreign correspondents have been barred from covering press conferences, and online attacks have become personal, focusing on the appearance and gender of female journalists.
• 📈 There has been a significant drop in public trust in the media, with the government's propaganda efforts seemingly successful in shaping public opinion.
• 📉 The Philippines slid six spots in the World Press Freedom Index, indicating a decline in press freedom under the Duterte administration.
• 🔒 Despite threats and harassment, journalists in the Philippines continue to report on critical issues and stand their ground against intimidation.

Q & A

What is the main concern raised in the transcript about the Philippine media?

The transcript raises concerns about the increasing attacks, threats, and intimidation against the Philippine media, including killings, libel cases, online harassment, and surveillance of journalists and media agencies.

How many journalists have been killed as per the records mentioned in the transcript?

According to the transcript, nine journalists have been killed.

What specific actions has the Duterte administration taken against the Philippine Daily Inquirer?

The Duterte administration has publicly criticized the Philippine Daily Inquirer over reports it deems unfair, accused the Prieto family of owing taxes, and threatened to block the renewal of its franchise.

What is the significance of the ABS-CBN franchise issue mentioned in the transcript?

The transcript mentions that President Duterte warned he would block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, accusing the network of swindling and not airing his political ads during the 2016 campaign, despite being paid for.

What allegations were made against Rappler in the transcript?

Rappler was accused of being a fake news outlet, of being fully owned by Americans which would violate the 1987 Philippine Constitution, and its license to operate was revoked by the Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly violating the Constitution and the anti-dummy law.

How has social media been weaponized against journalists as described in the transcript?

Social media has been weaponized by state propaganda, trolls, and click farms targeting journalists and dissenters with systematic attacks, including the use of derogatory terms, misinformation, and cyber attacks.

What is the term 'byran' used for in the context of the transcript?

In the context of the transcript, 'byran' is a term used in social media attacks against journalists, derived from a wordplay of 'press' and 'prostitute', implying bias or corruption in journalism.

How has the Duterte administration's approach to the media affected public trust according to the transcript?

The transcript suggests that the Duterte administration's actions have eroded public trust in the media, with extreme trust in the government almost tripling since 2015, while trust in the media has dropped for the first time in history.

What challenges do journalists face as described in the transcript?

Journalists face various challenges including harassment, online threats, accusations of bias, being called fake news, sexual harassment, and threats to their families, as detailed in the transcript.

What is the transcript's stance on the state of press freedom in the Philippines under the Duterte administration?

The transcript portrays a negative stance on press freedom, suggesting that the Duterte administration has created a toxic environment for journalists through online attacks, legal harassment, and attempts to control media outlets.