Friday, August 31, 2018

Journalists urged to fight back amid attacks vs Philippine press

The Philippine press, touted as the freest and liveliest in Asia, is under attack, journalism practitioners said.

Center for Freedom and Media Responsibility executive director Melinda Quintos de Jesus stressed that the dynamism of the Philippine press has been challenged by President Rodrigo Duterte, who has a rocky relationship with journalists and media owners.

“The president has shamed journalists publicly. Various media organizations have seen teams of plainclothes men hanging around their offices. Individual journalists have been trailed, trolled and threatened with sexual assault and crimes against them their families,” De Jesus said during the Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar on Thursday.

She added that the chief’s executive’s “punishing hand has shown its fist” to media companies such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN and Rappler.

Duterte created the Presidential Task Force on Media Security in 2016 to address media killings but has also gone on tirades against journalists and media outlets that have been critical of his policies.

Early in August, Duterte said he is personally against the renewal of franchise of media giant ABS-CBN Corp., which he had accused of swindling him. ABS-CBN’s congressional franchise is due to expire on March 30, 2020.

Last January, the Securities and Exchange Commission revoked the registration of Rappler, in what both local and international organizations called an act against press freedom.

Duterte is defended by bloggers with large followings on social media, who have frequently targeted journalists.

In the 2018 World Press Freedom Index of media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières, RSF), the Philippines slipped to 133rd from 127th out of the 180 countries on the list.

RSF also noted that the Philippines is the deadliest country for journalists in Asia after four of five media workers targeted by gunmen were killed in 2017.

Despite the unhealthy conditions that news agencies are facing, journalists cannot just sit down, the CMFR executives said.

“Yes, Philippine journalism is under siege and it needs to rise above itself, to fight back. Courage, principle, ethics, the better way for nation-building are demanded of journalists and would-be journalists,” CMFR board of trustees member Maribel Ongpin said.

“The media must continue their work even while they are watched by those who would rather silence the press,” De Jesus, a veteran journalist, said. — Gaea Katreena Cabico

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/08/31/1847513/journalists-urged-fight-back-amid-attacks-vs-philippine-press

TIFFANY and DEBBIE GIBSON live in Manila!

Pop Royalties and 80’s icons Tiffany and Debbie Gibson will perform their HITS back to back for the first time in Manila. September 15 (Saturday), 8PM at the Mall of Asia Arena!

This once in a lifetime concert experience took 30 years to become a reality.

Debates on who is the better singer/performer have been the topic on almost all 80’s and 90’s kids on social media.

Tiffany and Debbie Gibson had a long rumored rivalry during this unforgettable era due to their constant chart battles especially in the latter part of the 80’s.

Tiffany, had a notable cover of “I think we’re alone now” at the age of 16. The debut single became the anthem of teens reaching number 1 on the Pop Singles Chart and her self-titled album reached the peak, selling over 4 million copies. The ballad single “Could’ve been” also rose to the top and some memorable follow ups, “I saw him standing there”, “All this time” and “Radio romance” all became Top 10 hits. Tiffany holds the record for being the youngest female artist to top the billboard charts with a debut album.


Debbie Gibson released her debut album Out of the blue in 1987 and spawned several international hits and was later certified triple Platinum by the RIAA. “Foolish beat” was one of the single in the album that made her the youngest female artist to write, produce and perform a Billboard Hot 100 number one single. The second album “Electric youth” became double platinum and gave Debbie another U.S. number one hit “Lost in your eyes”.

She was the sole songwriter of all of her hits that reached the top 20 of the Hot 100 Charts and was recognized by ASCAP as Songwriter of the Year in 1989.


See them share the stage for the first time in Manila!

Sing along with Tiffany and Debbie Gibson as they perform all the HITS!

September 15. Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena

VIP P7,420 PATRON P6,890 LOWER BOX P4,770 UPPER BOX P3,710

Tickets available at all SM Tickets outlets and online at www.smtickets.com

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