Rappler's latest stories on Philippine media
9 in 10 Filipinos value independent journalism – Reuters Institute survey
63% believe it is the duty of journalists to call out lying and misleading politicians

[EXPLAINER] Forget about people’s initiative for ABS-CBN
It will cost the Comelec at least P4 billion, and it will overlap with its preparation for the 2022 elections. Let’s set the exercise aside for when we truly need it.

PH journalists slam rejection of ABS-CBN franchise: 'History is never kind to tyrants'
(4th UPDATE) 'A thousand little cuts do not make us weak, these make us stronger,' says the Malacañang Press Corps, as Philippine journalists call out the 'house of minions'

ABS-CBN shutdown, Maria Ressa threat borne of Duterte’s ‘contempt’ for press – int'l human rights lawyer
President Rodrigo Duterte's threats against Maria Ressa and ABS-CBN are intended to have a chilling effect on independent voices among civil society, says lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher

ABS-CBN’s battle is also ours
Rappler’s statement on ABS-CBN: ‘Learning from the lessons of history, journalists and other freedom-loving citizens must speak up because to be silent is to be complicit’

'We will fight back': Media groups slam House panel for denying ABS-CBN franchise
(UPDATED) Despite the denial of the franchise, media groups vow to continue exhausting all means to bring ABS-CBN back on air

European Parliament urges Duterte to 'drop all charges' vs Maria Ressa, Santos
The members of the European Parliament's Media Working Group say that the cyber libel conviction 'is part of an orchestrated campaign of legal harassment against Maria Ressa and Rappler'

Howie Severino detained for lowering face mask to drink water
Journalist Howie Severino says he was brought to the Amoranto Stadium, where he saw 'hundreds of people' required to attend a seminar on the coronavirus
Duterte 'compiling' information vs Maria Ressa
The President slams 'bright girls' who write critically of his government. He also claims he doesn't read well-written articles that show him in a bad light.
CNN Philippines goes off air after utility staff tests positive for COVID-19
'As a precaution and for everyone’s safety, we are temporarily going off the air starting tonight to disinfect the CNN Philippines office in Mandaluyong,' says CNN Philippines

WATCH: Stars, advocates, journalists perform ‘The Great Dictator’ speech to protest anti-terror law
John Lloyd Cruz, Chel Diokno, Iza Calzado, and Rappler's Maria Ressa are among those who appear in the video

Only 1 in 5 Filipinos would miss local newspapers ‘a lot’ if these go bust
Media advocates say collaboration and staying relevant can help community newspapers survive

Cebu City lockdown: Local journalist questioned by ‘imported’ cops
(2nd UPDATE) Journalists are among workers allowed to go out and perform their duty as long as they present their press IDs

Ressa, Santos seek reversal of cyber libel conviction, cite 13 errors
(UPDATED) 'The court’s role in the trial is to determine malice, not make malicious statements. Ascribing an underhanded and even unlawful motive – without assertion or proof – is malicious,' says the motion for partial reconsideration
Police intimidate GMA reporter doing traffic report
Cops ask for dzBB reporter Mark Makalalad's ID and demand that he ask for their permission when he does live reports. Their demands have no basis.
'Rob fear of its power' – Maria Ressa
Hannah Neumann, member of the European Parliament and vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, talks to Rappler's Maria Ressa

Reporting after the cyber libel verdict
Journalists are not the ones running scared

Filipino-American journalists send letter of support for Ressa, Santos, and Rappler
A letter from Filipino-American journalists says the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr 'poses threats to freedom of the press and democracy'

[EDITORIAL] Ang pulitika ng bengansya laban kay Maria Ressa at Rey Santos Jr
Ito ang dalawang haligi ng duling na hustisya na itinaguyod ng kampong Keng at ng DOJ: Ang 'republication' at ang 12-taong prescription period para sa libel

[PODCAST] Delikado ang epekto sa demokrasya ng Maria Ressa verdict
Hindi lamang mga mamamahayag ang maaapektuhan ng hatol kay Rappler CEO Maria Ressa at dating researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr

Keng sues Ressa for cyber libel anew over a 2019 tweet
(UPDATED) The complaint is filed February 13, 2020, or 4 months before a Manila court convicted Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr over the same issue
LIST: Groups worldwide decry ‘new weapon’ vs press freedom after cyber libel verdict
Groups and personalities from all over the world denounce the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr

After Ressa conviction, lawmaker seeks 1-year prescription period for cyber libel
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez says explicitly putting this in the Cybercrime Law would ''put to rest the issue of prescription of the crime of cyber libel'

Aquino: Why not use cybercrime law to go after trolls, purveyors of fake news?
'Parang pilit na pilit,' former President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III says of the cyber libel conviction of Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa and former Rappler researcher-writer, Rey Santos, Jr
U.S. State Dept, ambassador 'concerned' by Ressa verdict, call for free speech
America calls for a resolution of the case 'in a way that reinforces the U.S. and Philippines’ long shared commitment to freedom of expression, including for members of the press'

EU hits Ressa verdict, urges PH to protect free press
'We expect the Philippines, like all countries, to uphold its international human rights obligations and protect and promote fundamental freedoms,' says the European Union External Action Service

After verdict on Maria Ressa, world puts Duterte on trial
(UPDATED) In this global court, at stake is more than a fine and jail time, but the Philippines’ name on the world stage

Law experts: 12-year prescription period for cyber libel unconstitutional
'The overriding issue in the Rappler case is prescription,' says retired supreme court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio, who agrees that cyber libel must prescribe in 1 year, not 12 years
Aquino's contested cyber libel law gets new claws in ruling vs Rappler
Supreme Court dissenters warned against a cyber libel law that takes its definition from a 1930 statute, but will be applied to the internet age. They were overruled. The Rappler ruling is a new threatening development.
U.S. senators warn verdict vs Ressa sets 'dangerous precedent'
'Today we must face our own fear: that one of the oldest democracies in Asia…is abandoning its commitment to fundamental freedoms including freedom of the press,' say US Senators Edward Markey, Patrick Leahy, and Dick Durbin

Progressive orgs slam Duterte for taking advantage of pandemic to attack media
The Save Our Schools Network says it believes the conviction is part of the Duterte administration's aim to silence critical media

After ruling vs Ressa, uploaded old print articles vulnerable to cyber libel
'In other words, your articles from 3 ago or even 10 years ago can be used to sue you for cyber libel on the ground that they had been republished,' says lawyer Romel Bagares, one of the petitioners against the 2012 Cybercrime Law
Interest in news high, but trust low in the Philippines – 2020 Digital News Report
Filipinos' low trust in news could be due to the attacks that the media faced over the last year

U.S. should resist Maria Ressa verdict – Washington Post
The conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa 'ought to be shocking to democratic nations,' says the Washington Post Editorial Board

IBP questions jail sentence for Maria Ressa despite SC guidance to set only fines
Manila Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa says social media makes 'the keyboard mightier than the pen and thus mightier than the sword'
Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright stand with Maria Ressa
'We must fiercely protest attacks on the press. They are attacks on democracy,' says former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton

Guilty verdict proves gov’t could exhaust resources to attack critics, schools say
The Departments of Communication and Political Science of the Ateneo de Manila University-Loyola Schools and University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication criticize the government for its latest attempt to silence the media

Dissent through art in the time of media clampdown
Filipinos use art to express dissent following the cyber libel conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr

Judge Montesa 'failed to understand how journalism works'
The Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation blasts the verdict against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr, saying it puts everyone online in peril

'Nakakalungkot, nakakagalit": PH stars express outrage after Maria Ressa is convicted of libel
Quark Henares, Antoinette Jadaone, Dan Villegas, and Janine Gutierrez are some of the artists who expressed their dismay over the verdict

Why democracies should push back vs Maria Ressa verdict
'This is an international test for respect for the rule of law,' says world-renowned journalist Peter Greste

International media groups denounce Ressa, Santos' conviction
(5th UPDATE) The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, Foreign Correspondents’ Club Hong Kong, and International Federation of Journalists say the conviction is a crime against press freedom

Malacañang claims Duterte supports free press but leaves out threats vs media
After the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque uses President Rodrigo Duterte’s backing of a Davao-based journalist in an old libel case as proof he supports press freedom

'Another blow to press freedom’: Student groups condemn cyber libel conviction
Various groups say the guilty verdict depicts a clear message to silence institutions that report on the truth about the government

Journalists show solidarity with Ressa and Santos, slam guilty verdict
The verdict would render journalists and citizens defenseless against government officials who will do anything to evade accountability, they say

Business groups: Ressa verdict threatens Filipinos' rights, freedoms
(UPDATED) 'It is a big blow to press freedom especially given serious constitutional questions on whether the law is applicable at all. This would threaten our other rights and freedoms,' business groups say

#CourageON: How you can support Rappler after cyber libel verdict
The decision will not silence us. It has made us more resolute in our mission to hold power to account.

Robredo: Be wary of Ressa verdict's ‘chilling’ effect on citizens’ freedoms
'Silencing, harassing, and weaponizing law against the media sends a clear message to every dissenting voice: Keep quiet or you are next,' warns Vice President Leni Robredo

What Maria Ressa conviction means for reporting confidential sources
Judge Montesa's 37-page ruling does not discuss how to treat confidential sources. Instead it faults Rappler for 'not verifying' and stresses that the free press must be responsible.

Court affirms republication a separate libel offense, prescription period is 12 years
(UPDATED) Had it not been for those 2 legal issues, the disputed article would not have been covered by 2012 Cybercrime Law. Ressa warns it affects everyone who posts online.
