As the year 2008 ended, another radio broadcaster in Northern Samar in the Philippines was killed by unknown assailants.
The killing of Leo Mila of dxSY brought to six the number of journalists/media practitioners killed in the line of duty in 2008. Aside from killings and physical attacks, the Philippine press also faced legal suits and other harassment from government officials and powerful personalities.
The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), a founding member of SEAPA, reviewed the state of press freedom in the Philippines, focusing on the killing of journalists and other attacks on the press from January to December 2008. CMFR’s 2008 Press Freedom Report, the third since the media group began issuing annual reports on 2006, also looks at the legal environment for press freedom; problems in prosecuting suspects in the killing of journalists; and the state of media ownership in the country.
The report looks into these threats as part of the effort not only to record the details of a deteriorating press freedom situation that needs exposure, but also as part of CMFR’s contribution to the campaign to improve respect for and observance of press freedom in the Philippine setting..
The Philippine Press Freedom Report 2008 is available online at the CMFR website. Copies are also available at the CMFR office, second floor, Ateneo Professional Schools, 130 HV de la Costa, Salcedo Village, Makati City. Bulk orders from schools and libraries are provided at a discount. Those interested may call CMFR at +632 840 0889.
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CMFR ( http://cmfr.com.ph/ ) is a SEAPA founding member based in Manila, the Philippines, working to promote ethical journalism and to protect press freedom.
