Pooled editorial: President and press have common duty
On the eve of the presidential inauguration, journalists from different news organizations in the country have written a pooled editorial on the “common duty in law and tradition” that binds the presidency and the media.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer fully agrees with the points raised by the industry’s statement of unity, and adopts it as its own editorial.
READ: The Prez and the press
The pooled editorial outlines the media industry’s understanding of the presidency as “the most important pivot of news and policy in the land” and defines the news media’s role as “custodian and gatekeeper” of some of the citizenry’s most fundamental rights.
It notes “at least two disturbing ‘messages’” from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, but ends with both well-wishes for the success of the new administration and with a commitment to “do journalism right and better.”
Aside from the Inquirer, Cebu Daily News, The Standard and the Philippine Star, the list of institutions signing the pooled editorial as of 5:10 p.m. Tuesday includes the Philippine Press Institute, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp., Mindanao Cross, Mindanao Gold Star Daily, Sun.Star – Cagayan de Oro, Journal, Freeman, Bicol Today, Bulatlat, Philippine Collegian, Eastern Vista, Pahayagang Balikas, BANAT News, Northern Dispatch, Panguil Bay Monitor, Mindanao Monitor, Catarman Weekly Tribune, Lanao del Norte Today, Mindanao Daily News, BlogWatch, and Kodao Productions. More signatories are expected.
