The pledge, called "Wag Kukurap" ("Don't Blink"), seeks to reaffirm both the media's traditional role as "watchdog" and a reminder not to be swayed by politicians seeking to manipulate the media.
SOME 300 journalists from print, broadcast and online media organizations recently pledged to fight "fake news" and disinformation in the upcoming 2022 election campaign.
The Election 2022 Pledge for Journalists and Media Organizations, which was presented and discussed in a forum on Saturday (July 17), was also signed by over 40 news outlets, including the leading print and broadcast networks, local and regional news organizations and associations of journalists around the country.
The pledge, called "Wag Kukurap" ("Don't Blink"), seeks to reaffirm both the media's traditional role as "watchdog" and a reminder not to be swayed by politicians seeking to manipulate the media.
"As journalists reporting on another critical moment for our country, we have a duty to provide accurate, reliable and essential information that will empower voters and encourage public discussion and debate," the manifesto, read during the online launch by Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) executive director Melinda Quintos de Jesus and veteran television journalist Ed Lingao of TV5, affirmed.
Among others, journalists who signed the pledge affirmed that:
- Election integrity is not just about credible counting of votes, but about clean, level, legal, transparent, and accountable campaigning;
- Credible elections need credible media; conversely, corrupted media can further corrupt politics;
- Citizens need issues and debates to be clarified, not simply amplified.
No to fake news
Aside from the expected pledges to focus on platforms and not on personalities and scrutinizing candidates' qualifications and track records, the manifesto also enjoined media personalities to challenge and correct claims that have "no basis and fact" and avoid "highlighting or amplifying falsehoods, hate speech and incitements to violence."
The signatories also vowed no to report on election-related surveys "without verifying the source of the polling data, the track record of the companies conducting the polls, the methodologies used, and the questions asked."
"[We will] monitor the independence of the Commission on Elections, the courts, the military, the police, teachers and all other individuals and entities involved in the conduct of the election," the manifesto also promised.
“We commit to monitor vote-buying, campaign spending and the use of public funds to win elections,” the pledge said.
Solidarity and accountability
“We pledge to stand in solidarity with each other when any journalist or news organization is harassed by state agents, political parties, candidates, or private groups for their evidence-based journalism,” according to the pledge.
The signatories also pledged to ultimately be accountable to the public.
The pledge remains open to media organizations or individual journalists who can sign it through the link: https://tinyurl.com/election2022pledge . (ONT)
Tags: #WagKukurap, #mediaresponsibility, #2022elections, #fakenews