Freedom

Every May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day. It is one day that we often overlook in many ways. In Cebu, it isn’t as prominently marked, perhaps because we already dedicate an entire month to commemorating the role of the press. That time is often filled with fellowships, reunions, and brief pauses from the relentless pace of news gathering. I would like to think it is also a moment, however fleeting, when we allow ourselves to forget the many issues that continue to hound the profession. However, forgetting is a privilege we do not always have.

I can’t help but remember RJ, the community journalist whose life was lost during an alleged encounter in Toboso, Negros Oriental. Despite repeated assertions that he was not affiliated with the New People’s Army, his activism and commitment to telling stories from the margins were enough to brand him otherwise. In a profession where truth is supposed to be our shield, it often becomes the very thing that puts us at risk.

His story is not isolated. There are many instances where press freedom is tested and stretched to its limits. At times one is pushed against the wall and at times, outright denied. These are not always dramatic or headline-grabbing. Sometimes, they are quiet: a story spiked before publication, a source too afraid to speak, a journalist second-guessing whether a line is worth the consequences. These moments accumulate, shaping the boundaries of what can and cannot be said.

Some argue that our situation is better compared to other countries, where journalists face more overt forms of repression. While that may be true, it is a dangerous standard to settle for. The absence of the worst-case scenario does not mean the presence of genuine freedom. A press that operates under fear, hesitation, or subtle pressure is not entirely free. True be told, it is merely surviving.

Freedom, in its truest sense, should not be conditional. It should not depend on geography, political climate, or the shifting tolerance of those in power. It should be a constant, a guarantee that journalists can pursue the truth without risking their lives or their integrity. Yet, reality reminds us that this ideal remains contested.

World Press Freedom Day should not only be a day of recognition or celebration. It should be a moment of reckoning. A reminder that the work we do carries weight, not just in informing the public, but in holding systems accountable. It is also a call to examine the spaces we occupy like newsrooms, communities, and institutions.

At its core, press freedom is not just about journalists. It is about the public’s right to know. It is about ensuring that stories especially those from the peripheries are told, heard, and remembered. This is perhaps that is why forgetting is not an option. It is not for the many others whose names may not make it to national headlines. Freedom, after all, is not just something we celebrate. It is something we must constantly defend.