Dear brothers and sisters, an important pillar of democracy is a free press. If a man is free to deliver news and significant information about the doings of people in power, we get to hold our leaders more accountable to us. This is why people who know the importance of press freedom are anxious about the arrest of Rappler editor and CEO Maria Ressa.
The government says the arrest of Maria Ressa has nothing to do with press freedom. Immensely, many extraordinary cases have occurred after the revival of an old case dismissed by the court, and Ressa was not the only person who presumably wrote articles relating to cyber libel. Since Ressa and Rappler are well known for their observance of truth in the stories they share, some groups consider Ressa’s arrest as an attempt to suppress press freedom, especially in delivering critical and fault-finding opinions contradicting the interests of the current administration.
Ressa is also known for combating fake news on social media. Her work helps in the fight against the spread of lies on social media. And Rappler’s actions are becoming unpleasant for those spreading these lies. In the events that seem to suffocate Rappler and Ressa, it is possible to question if public interest is truly addressed.
Our Church recognizes the rights of any society to seek information based on truth. Hence, the Church also recognizes press freedom, which is important in the development of humanity, as well as the different fields of economics, politics, culture, education and faith. The Church has several principles regarding good media. First is to help the greater good of humanity. Second is to help raise society’s awareness of their rights. Third is to help in the spiritual well- being of the people. And fourth is to develop the understanding and responsibility of everyone toward each other, especially to the less fortunate and weak in society.
The government must protect journalists adopting these principles. They should not be oppressed or harassed. They work along with the government in pursuing and developing the wellbeing of the people. Expressing and spreading the truth is the true form of respect for the people, especially in exposing the abuses of leaders in government. This is the reason why press freedom needs to be protected. From free expression, we are able to evaluate if the information the public receives is true or false through fact checking. If there isn’t anyone to evaluate the truth in news, most of us will be deceived with false information, which continues to spread even now.
It is clear that having reliable journalists is a foundation of a society that prioritizes truth in its mass media. If truth itself is important to the people, they will defend these journalists who express the truth. If free press is gradually repressed, the same will happen to other rights of the people. Because if no one will inform the people of true events, how will we know about the wrongdoings or abuses of people in power?
Brothers and sisters, it truly is worrying when journalists are surrounded by fear. This is what the adversary of truth wants: the fear of the people from spreading and defending the truth. A question we must answer: What are we prepared to give for the truth?
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