Journalists, media groups tackle fake news

Journalists and media organizations, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer, will be joined by scholars and bloggers to fight the proliferation of fake news in the country through a two-day conference in which protection of people’s freedoms will be at the core of the discussions.

The forum, titled “Democracy and Disinformation: How Fake News and Other Forms of Disinformation Threaten Our Freedoms, and How to Fight Back,” will be held on Monday and Tuesday at Ateneo de Manila Rockwell Campus in Makati City.

Press freedom

Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen will deliver the keynote address on Monday afternoon, with the topic “Our Fundamental Freedoms.”

One of the organizers, Inquirer associate editor and columnist John Nery, said putting the conference together became more urgent when the Securities and Exchange Commission revoked the license of online news network Rappler and when President Rodrigo Duterte described press freedom as a “privilege in a democratic state.”

“The President is wrong. Press freedom is not a privilege. It is a right, guaranteed by the Constitution and enshrined in our history,” Nery said.

He said that disinformation, such as the “fake news” stories that had become so prevalent, was another direct attack on the freedom of the press.

The conference will have around 45 resource persons, including at least six distinguished speakers from abroad. Nearly 400 participants have registered for the conference.