Media Safety

Office

Established in 2005 in partnership with the International Federation of Journalists, the NUJP Media Safety Office monitors all forms of attacks against the media–from threats to intimidation and killings. It also keeps track of the legal status of journalist killings, and cases seeking to intimidate journalists, such as criminal libel.

For more than 15 years, the NUJP Media Safety Office has promoted better and safer working conditions for Filipino journalists through campaigns, training, and legal and technical support. It has helped bring interests of the Filipino working press to the fore, pioneering journalist safety advocacy in the country since its creation.

A huge part of NUJP Media Safety Office’s work is to provide safety training, both physical and digital, across the country. It involves practical exercises that aim to develop skills useful for every journalist working and covering conflict and other hostile situations.

Another aspect of the NUJP Media Safety Office’s work is the conduct of local risk assessments, which record and map out the risks faced by journalists while assessing existing safety mechanisms and how these can be improved in the long run.

Monitoring and documentation of journalist killings and attacks against the press in the Philippines have also been one of the office’s core functions. According to its tally, at least 189 journalists have been murdered in the country since 1986.

In 2016, the Media Safety Office started maintaining a database of all attacks against the press as part of the Freedom for Media, Freedom for All! Alliance. From June 30, 2016 to April 30, 2020 the Media Safety Office recorded 171 cases of threats and attacks against the press; 24 of those cases are libel and cyber-libel cases filed against journalists.

The Media Safety Office also helps journalists deal with trauma that comes with their work through the peer support network of journalists and media workers and the Peer Support Training.

The NUJP Media Safety Office’s headquarters is based in Manila and has four satellite offices based in the following cities: Olongapo City for Luzon; Bacolod City for Visayas; Cagayan de Oro for Western Mindanao and Davao City for Eastern Mindanao.

For reports on harassment and other forms of attacks, please contact the NUJP Media Safety headquarters at +639175155991, +6385578313 or safety@nujp.org

You may also get in touch with our local safety officers here:

Luzon: 09453513454, 09398475174
Visayas: 09453503456, 09398475195
Eastern Mindanao: 09453503459, 09398475242
Western Mindanao: 09453503455, 09398475177

ALERTS

[Alert] Kalinga journalists post bail for cyber libel case

[Alert] Kalinga journalists post bail for cyber libel case

(Photo courtesy: Guru Press) Brent Martinez and Ghumie Pinkihan — editors of Guru Press in Tabuk, Kalinga — paid P192,000 in bail on Friday, August 27, over a cyber libel case fled by the town's mayor. According to a report on Guru Press, the warrants for the arrest...

[Statement] Justice for Gwenn Salamida

[Statement] Justice for Gwenn Salamida

(Photo courtesy: Boy Santos, The STAR) The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines condoles with the family and colleagues of Gwenn Salamida of 'Saksi Ngayon', who was shot dead in a salon that she owned in Quezon City on August 17. According to a statement...

KEEP SAFE DURING

COVERAGE

Download our Philippine Journalist Safety Guide