As the keen watchdogs of the country, journalists have been expressing their skills and guarding the truth with their pens, voices, and hands. With the powerful right of press freedom, the bravery and courage of young student journalists mirror the professional journalists who play a part in watching the country through the lenses of truth and justice. Hence, journalism has reported, narrated, conveyed, and painted numerous truthful stories.

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However, despite being in a democratic country, Filipinos still struggle to attain press freedom.

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Based on the Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) World Press Freedom Index in 2021, the Philippines ranked 138 out of 180 countries, dropping two places from the preceding year. As cited by the RSF, the continued attacks of the government on the media, online harassment, and red-tagging of journalists have been oppressing the media, the press, and the Filipinos. 

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Despite the bravery and discipline of journalists in delivering the truth in the media, human rights violations that continue to disturb and threaten them have prevailed over the years. Although professional and campus journalists can publish articles and convey the truth in social and traditional media, the constant threats to the freedom of expression of journalists and Filipinos serve as a call to further fight for human rights. According to UNESCO, approximately 85% of the world’s population experienced a decline in press freedom over the past five years, stressing the urgency to protect and fight for freedom of expression, media, and the press.

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The current justice system and alarming impunity are further threatening the state of journalism. On October 2022, Percy Lapid, a well-known hard-hitting Filipino radio journalist and radio broadcaster who had been vocal against red-tagging and government corruption, was shot dead. Consequently, Filipino journalists, activists, and youth among the public have condemned the murder of Lapid. 

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In a democratic country where criticism and dissent should be allowed, the lives of journalists who criticize and vocalize opinions against government’s anomalies are at risk. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has condemned the killing of Lapid and stated that 197 journalists had been killed in the Philippines since 1986, unraveling the dangers of being a journalist in the country. The alarming numbers of killings stand as a cruel reminder for Filipinos to fight.

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If the government continues to tolerate impunity in the realm of the justice system, then all Filipinos will still suffer from injustice. Journalists are not the only ones who lack freedom in the country, with millions of marginalized Filipinos struggling to achieve justice and express concerns and dissent. 

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Yet the current fight of journalists for freedom is essential in ensuring that the flowers of truth will bloom towards everyone who need it.

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Amidst the present and growing dangers and risks of journalism and its profession in the country, courageous journalists still persist and fight against media oppression, injustice, and impunity. Activists are still protesting, advocates are still fighting, and journalists are still perseveringly reporting. To seek justice for the lost, bloodstained lives and strive to change the present situation, the current battle for press freedom stands bravely with the determined Filipinos—writers, speakers, advocates, activists, and journalists. 

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Filipino Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa once stated, “Democracy is fragile. You have to fight for every bit, every law, every safeguard, every institution, every story. You must know how dangerous it is to suffer even the tiniest cut. This is why I say to us all: we must hold the line."

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Unless journalism finally achieves the freedom to convey and express the truth, journalists among those who serve as watchdogs of the country will continue to suffer with the risks and fears of being attacked by injustices and media oppression. Hence, the fight for truth, justice, and press freedom is a brave reminder for Filipinos, especially campus and professional journalists, to resist and persist.