Imagine a day without news. No newspapers. Static on the radio except for one solitary station playing the national anthem. Same on tv. All snow in all channels. Eerie. But it actually happened on September 21, 1972, the day Marcos declared Martial Law.

The military then tried to intimidate 23 women journalists brave enough to write stories about military atrocities. I salute them for their courage!

We fought long and hard to get back our democracy. And I am not about to repeat that infamous day. I do not want to have that feeling of uncertainty again because of a news blackout. But we should not wait for that day to happen again. We should be on our guard.

Already there was talk of inviting the media "to work out guidelines on media coverage under a state of national emergency." Proclamation 1017 threatens our freedom of speech. I refuse to give up our fundamental right to publish facts, ideas or opinions. I refuse to submit to any media guidelines that will curtail this freedom. No government should interfere with this right in any way, as in the case of the Tribune or any other paper.

When news tends to be biased or borders on the incredible…only the public may judge to remove a publication or program out of the market. But never the government.

As a woman writer and editor for a syndicated media service that writes stories from the women's perspective, I manage to put women's views in the news…and I will not lose this space, no matter how small.

Women are half the population and deserve space in print and broadcast media and should have a say on all issues that affect their lives. They want to know the truth. They want to know all sides. They want to be part of the debate. And this cannot happen with a manipulated press.

The press is the last bastion of democracy. A free press is the best safeguard against unjust rule. A government is less likely to impose unjust laws when people can openly criticize its decisions. Without that freedom, people cannot be politically free or achieve economic progress.

The right to speak is non-negotiable. It is free for all. Keep media free!

For some background info on the campaign, please check out
FREE 4 ALL.

Labels: media, politics