Integrating ‘Safety of Journalists’ in the curricula
AFORUM on this topic held yesterday at the NowPlanet Auditorium, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, sought to address a growing concern – the safety of journalists and impunity. This concern has arisen because of the rise of killings and threats facing journalists. Note these statistics: Since 1986 to 2017, there had been 156 work-related killings of journalists. In 2017, there were three work-related killings in the country. In 2015 and 2016, the Philippines, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), was next to Iraq and Syria as the most dangerous country for journalists.
The forum is one of the various activities held in various countries of the world, as part of the UN Plan of Action for the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of impunity. The Plan, a framework for coordinating, developing, and improving responses to threats against journalists, presented an opportunity for inter-governmental organizations, civil society, member states, and media workers around the world.
The year 2012 happened to be the year when the number of journalists killed was among the highest in a decade. As the International Media Support (IMS) that examined the state of safety of journalists in seven countries, Defending Journalism, 2017, stated, “Pervasive impunity for people who killed, threatened, or attacked media workers meant that many journalists in countries like Mexico, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Philippines were forced to choose between self-censorship, exile, or to continue working at their peril. A large number of journalists were also imprisoned that year.
In these case studies of Afghanistan, Colombia, Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines, IMS showed how national mechanisms (such as laws, armed escorts, armored cars, relocation support, mobile phones, and other material needs) can protect journalists and address impunity. The comparative analysis of best practices in local media support, monitoring and advocacy, along with international media and freedom of expression organizations likewise made inroads towards protecting journalists.
The forum is part of the UNESCO Participation Programme being implemented by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication. Since 1980 when it was founded, it had been an active advocate for press freedom through its research, forums, publications, and training. AIJC, together with several other organizations is collaborating with a European Union (EU)-supported project that aims to contribute towards the building of a freer and safer working environment for journalists and media workers. This involves a “critical engagement” with the government as well as sectors that pose challenges to the practice of journalism.
Borrowing the 3 P’s used by Article 19 – “Prevent, Protect, and Prosecute” – the AIJC through its curricula, research, training, and advocacy programs continues to pursue activities that provide an enabling environment for the practice of independent and responsible journalism. Through its research, forums, and training activities, it suggests risk assessment and monitoring tools. It links with relevant agencies that help protect journalists and news media from attacks. The case study on the Philippines published in the IMS study, “Defending Journalism,” written by Ramon R. Tuazon, president of the AIJC and chair of the Technical Committee of the Commission on Higher Education, together with research associates, Ann Lourdes Lopez and Therese P. San Diego and Daniel Abunales, surveyed existing curricula in various communication and journalism schools in the country to determine how “safety of journalists” and “impunity” may be integrated in the curricula towards the goal of providing the necessary knowledge, mindsets, research, documentation, and reporting skills that would prepare journalists to become more effective partners of the legal community. The goal and vision is for future communicators and journalists to become effective partners not only by protecting members of their community but even more important, helping them to develop preventive measures against crime and impunity.
Today, in an environment of fake news and half-truths, as well as technology that provides both an opportunity and challenge, the purveyor of truth is faced with even greater challenges.
The keynote speaker at yesterday’s forum was Assistant Secretary Lila Ramos Shahani, secretary-general, of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines.