Editor's note: We are publishing in full statements issued by various groups and institutions in support of ABS-CBN Corp., which went off the air on May 5, 2020 following a cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission. The company's franchise expired on May 4, while bills for its franchise renewal, some filed since 2016, continued to languish in Congress.

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Alliance for Journalists' Freedom
Level 3
1 Bligh St
Sydney 2000 Australia

11 May 2020

To President Duterte

Regional Coalition calls on Duterte Govt to re-open ABS CBN and ensure Press Freedom in the Philippines.

At times of crisis, reliable information is a key part of society's ability to cope and respond. In the context of the Covid19 pandemic, the closure of broadcaster ABS-CBN is unconscionable.

Lack of a free media makes democracy vulnerable, fractures societies and undermines trust in institutions especially in Government.

The Filipino public greatly needs reliable information. This is particularly the case given the well documented vulnerability of the Philippines to fake news spread through Facebook.

We cannot beat this virus without knowledge through transparency, and cooperation through communication.

Governments have a responsibility to maintain their democratic and social systems, and a free media plays an essential role within that.

The closure of ABS-CBN makes the Philippines a less healthy society, and also undermines the ability of the region and the world to respond to this crisis.

We, the undersigned journalists, press freedom groups and media organisations have come together to call on you to urgently reinstate ABS-CBN's operating license and make an ongoing commitment to press freedom.

Join us in maintaining a regional and global standard.


Sincerely


Peter Greste
Director
Alliance for Journalists' Freedom
UNESCO Chair of Journalism & Communication at the University of Queensland
&

Margaret Simons,
freelance journalist and author

with:

Alan Soon
Co-founder, Splice Media

Dr Alexandra Wake
President, Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia

Anna Draffin
Chief Executive Officer, The Public Interest Journalism Initiative

Dr Cait McMahon
OAM, PhD, MAPS Managing Director, Dart Centre Asia Pacific

Chris Feik
Editor, Quarterly Essay

Gaven Morris
Director, News, Analysis & Investigations at Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Gary Dickson
Press freedom researcher and writer

Helen Garner
Writer

Associate Professor Jason Bosland
Centre for Media and Communications Law, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne

Jean Ker Walsh
Moderator, Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership

Johan Lidberg
Deputy Head Journalism, Monash University

Jon Bisset
Chief Executive Officer, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia

Dr Joseph M Fernandez
Adjunct Associate Professor, Curtin University

Karen Mahlab AM
Publisher, Pro Bono Australia, Founding Director The Public Interest
Journalism Initiative

Lenore Taylor
Editor, The Guardian Australia

Lisa Davies
Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald

Lisa Waller
Professor of Digital Communication, RMIT University

Marcus Strom
President of MEAA Media

Mark Ryan
Executive Director, The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas

Maria A. Ressa
CEO and Executive Editor, RAPPLER

Misha Ketchell
Editor & Executive Director, The Conversation, Australia and New Zealand

Nick Feik
Editor, The Monthly

Professor Helen Sullivan
Academic

Premesh Chandran
CEO, Co-Founder of Malaysiakini

Sabra Lane
President, National Press Club of Australia

Professor Susan Forde
Dean (Academic), Arts Education and Law Group, Griffith University

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