Some 300 journalists across different platforms have banded together against minsinformation and committed to uphold integrity among their ranks ahead of the 2022 elections.
In a pledge made public on Saturday, the journalists said every election is a "reckoning for democracy," and the media duty-bound to provide accurate and reliable information to the public that will "empower voters and encourage public discussion and debate."
"Election integrity is not just about credible counting of votes, but about clean, level, legal, transparent, and accountable campaigning," the pledge read.
"Credible elections need credible media; conversely, corrupted media can further corrupt politics. Citizens need issues and debates to be clarified, not simply amplified," it added.
The media workers promised to put the integrity of the elections at the center of their reporting, focus on issues and not only on personalities, and examine the track record and qualifications of candidates and political parties.
They also committed to challenge and correct statements and claims that have "no basis in fact," avoid highlighting falsehoods, and report on the partisan activities of government officials.
The journalists pledged to monitor vote buying, campaign spending, and use of public funds during the election, contextualize election surveys, and disclose potential conflicts of interest, among others.
"We will hold each other to higher standards of impartiality, credibility, and integrity," they added.
The 2022 elections, which will determine the successor of President Rodrigo Duterte, is set for May 9 next year.
Read the full pledge and the signatories here.
