Championing Press Freedom in the Digital Age
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro highlighted the vital role of press freedom in the digital age during the National Press Freedom Day Conference held at Ibis Styles Hotel Manila in Quezon City. She underscored the need for responsible and ethical journalism as the media navigates the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital era.
Castro acknowledged the Philippine press as a crucial guardian of democracy, tasked with delivering accurate, fair, and transparent information to the public. She emphasized that press freedom in the digital age demands a heightened sense of responsibility among journalists.
Ethical Reporting as a Pillar of Democracy
Addressing media practitioners, Castro described the conference as more than a gathering of journalists, writers, and scholars. “It is an exercise in ethical and responsible reporting – a reassurance that information is power and those who wield it have more responsibility than they can imagine,” she said.
She urged attendees to apply the lessons learned to continuously defend press freedom and improve their craft. “May these learnings open new doors to you as you improve your craft. May they also mold into champions of responsible and ethical journalism in a rapidly evolving media landscape,” Castro added.
Challenges in the Digital Media Landscape
Despite the rise of misinformation and public skepticism on social media, Castro called on media members to remain steadfast in their commitment to truth, transparency, and equality. She reminded them that journalists play a key role in keeping democracy “alive, healthy and working.”
Conference Highlights and Key Messages
The event, themed “Press Freedom in the Digital Age: Rights, Responsibilities and Realities,” brought together representatives from state media, media professionals, and journalism students. The one-day conference was organized by the Presidential Communications Office in accordance with Republic Act 11458, which designates August 30 as National Press Freedom Day in honor of Marcelo H. del Pilar, the Father of Philippine Journalism.
In his opening remarks, PCO Assistant Secretary Jose Maria Villarama II stressed that press freedom is not a privilege but a cornerstone of democracy. “It is not enough to say that we have press freedom. We must ask, how do we protect and practice this freedom responsibly in the digital age? That is why our theme is very urgent because today, freedom of the press is tested in new ways,” he said.
He reminded participants that press freedom must be exercised with responsibility, professionalism, fairness, and accuracy. “Freedom without responsibility is fragile; freedom with responsibility is enduring,” Villarama emphasized.
He further noted that protecting press freedom is a collective effort. “It requires all of us. Together, we keep press freedom alive,” he concluded.
For more news and updates on press freedom in the digital age, visit Filipinokami.com.
