The Philippines is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. From 1986, when a free press was restored, to September 2003, 42 journalists have been killed in the line of duty.
The Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) believes that the killings are an infringement on the right to free speech. They have a chilling effect on the media and deprive communities of the right to information.
Nearly all the killings have taken place outside Manila, in places where the rule of law is weak and the government is unable to protect citizens. The impunity with which the murderers have been able to get away with the killings only encourages more violence against journalists.
Journalists therefore have no choice but to protect themselves. They cannot rely on the police or on officials to ensure their safety.
This handbook provides tips on how media practitioners can protect themselves. These include taking precautions during coverage and being sensitive to threats.
But the best protection is reporting responsibly and educating the public on the role of journalists. Many of the attacks against journalists have been prompted by the failure of officials and other individuals to understand the media's role as watchdog of society.
The FFFJ recognizes that the media has to clean up its act. Otherwise, its excesses and abuses will be used as an excuse to justify clamping down on the press and killing journalists. This handbook, therefore, lays down the principles of ethical journalism.
No journalist, no matter how irresponsible, deserves to be killed. There are existing mechanisms that can be used to redress the grievances of those who feel offended by what the media publishes or airs. Those mechanisms are described in this pamphlet.
