LIST: World Press Freedom Day 2024 events, activities

MANILA, Philippines — To mark the 31st celebration of World Press Freedom Day, publications and interest groups in the country will be conducting events and activities starting from Friday, May 3 and onwards.

This year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will host a conference themed: “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,’’ in time of this commemoration. The theme stresses the instances of censorship experienced by media practitioners and the importance of genuine reporting for a sustainable future.

To emphasize the roles of independent journalism in a time of disinformation and climate crisis, here is a running list of upcoming events and activities initiated by student publications and advocacy groups for World Press Freedom Day:

In-person events

• 88 FRYER, a gig space for music and events, is inviting everyone to attend the PRESS PLAY GIG on Friday, May 3, at the 88 Fryer Bar in Timog Avenue, Quezon City. The gig will feature several local artists such as Oh, Flamingo!, Oriang, Joshua Kim, and Worship The Gays. 

For tickets and concerns about the event, you may RSVP through this link or contact Ms. Fay Sales at 09173183456. There is a P500 door charge which includes a free drink. The event opens at 8 pm. 

• College Editors Guild of the Philippines invites everyone to join a local protest themed, “Mamamahayag at Manggagawa, Magkaisa!” on Friday, May 3, at 12 pm to 6 pm, at the Student Union Building in the University of the Philippines Diliman. 
• The Adamson Chronicle invites students to join the movement that highlights community journalism in its tenth installment of Plumang Bughaw X: Pagkatig sa Komunidad on Saturday, May 4, in Adamson University in Manila.
  
  This seminar-workshop aims to promote social transformation through factual storytelling and community immersion. Interested participants may register here for free.
• The American Corner Davao in Ateneo De Davao University (ADDU) is conducting Kanopy Film Party and forum on Friday, May 17, at the ADDU Jacinto Campus, Davao City. It will feature the Academy Award-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol by Mstyslav Chernov, which centers on the struggles and atrocities experienced by Ukrainian journalists, including his own, during the 2022 Russian invasion.  The screening is open to the public. Coffee and food will also be provided. If interested, you may sign up through this link.
• The Bedan Herald of San Beda College Alabang, opens its doors to student journalists, and press freedom advocates for its upcoming event, ‘’[M]ulat: Mag-ulat at Magmulat, a forum on the role of campus journalism in fighting oppression’,” happening on Saturday, May 25, at the Manny Reyes Hall. This will be the first annual event that will draw attention to the state of press freedom in the Philippines, censorship and oppression, among others. Interested participants can register here.

• The Magdalo Jr., the official high school and college student publications of Emilio Aguinaldo College – Manila, invites students to a week-long event themed, “The Media’s Light: Upholding the Bastion of Truth for Inquisitive Minds,” starting May 6 to 11. 

The launch of the event will focus on “Capturing Creativity in Journalism: A Seminar on Photojournalism and Graphic Design,” a seminar workshop crafted for Junior High and Senior High students. Interested students from EAC – Manila must prepare P100 for ticket reservation and register through this link here.

• The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is holding a candle-lighting protest to recall the injustices inflicted upon the environmental journalists, and stimulate the call for protection of journalists and the Philippine environment. This will happen on Friday, May 3, 6:30 pm, at the Boy Scout Circle in Timog, Quezon City.
• The Philippine Safety Media Summit in partnership with the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, Center for Community Journalism and Development, and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, among others, facilitates the “Surviving Pandemics and Provocations: Challenging Current Paradigms,” which will feature plenary discussions and workshops ranging from print to broadcast media topics and state of journalism in the Philippines. The summit is set to happen from May 2 to 3, at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City. 
• The University of Caloocan City Communication Advocates Council South Campus is searching for interested participants to join its upcoming radio broadcasting competition ‘’BUMOSES KA, DAHIL MAY BOSES KA’’ on Monday, May 6, 10 am to 5 pm, at the UCC Social Hall South Campus. 

To register and know more about the guidelines for the said event, you may refer to  this link.

• Union of Journalists of the Philippines – UP Diliman organizes a local action protest themed, “Martsa para sa Malayang Pamamahayag,” on Friday, May 3, 3 pm, at the CMC Veranda. This will be followed by a symbolic action at the Boy Scout Circle by 6:30 pm.
• Viseur, a youth organization from STI College – Cubao, is organizing a series of talks themed, ‘’Eklektiko: Paglinang sa iba’t ibang Larangan ng Komunikasyon,’’ which will tackle topics on photojournalism, editorial cartooning, and public speaking. This will happen in STI Cubao in Quezon City on Friday, May 3, from 9 am to 6 pm.

Online

• The Amaranth, the official student publication of Visayas State University, launches AmaranTalks, a series of explainer videos tackling issues about the campus press. The series will run from May 1 onwards. 
• Climate Tracker Asia, in collaboration with the US Embassy, is holding a series of webinars called “Writing the Story of Our Generation,” on May 3, 5 pm. It will be available live on social media sites (TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook). The event will run for 90 minutes and consists of discussions on urban resilience and biodiversity, testimonies from climate journalists, and other pressing issues.
• DZUP, the official radio station of the University of the Philippines, invites everyone to listen to “Malayang Pamamahayag, Responsableng Mamamahayag! (Malayang Media bilang Puso ng Demokrasya)’’ on Thursday, May 2 at 12 PM. This program is in conjunction with other events, such as National Literature Month and Labor Day. If you are interested to hear more about this discussion, you may check here.
• Pitik Bulag partnership with Explained PH and Rappler civic engagement arm MovePH, has launched a political cartoon competition themed, “Journalism that Empowers the Margins.” The contest is open to artists of all levels. You may submit your works at the #public-art channel of Rappler Communities, on or before Thursday, May 2, 7 pm. For more information on the competition mechanics, click here.
• The Bosun, the official student publication of the University of Asia and the Pacific is hosting an online essay writing competition entitled, ‘’Waves of Discourse’,” from May 3 to 10. It is open to both students and non-UAP undergraduate students. If you want to join, you may pre-register through this link for free. 

If you know of any other events commemorating the 31st World Press Freedom Day on May 3, we welcome you to share the details through the #factsfirstph chatroom on Rappler Communities or through move.ph@rappler.com – with reports from Allaine Kate Leda, Adelainne Balbin, and Mika Soria/Rappler.com 

Allaine Kate A. Leda is a Rappler intern from West Visayas State University – Main Campus. She is currently a fourth-year student taking up Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

Mika Soria is a Rappler volunteer from the University of the Philippines Diliman. As a soon-to-be graduate from the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing program, they are interested in exploring writing in the field of journalism–most especially when it comes to stories centered on community and nation-building.

Adelainne Balbin is a Rappler intern from the Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila. She is currently in her fourth year in college taking up Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.