MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.Net/03 May 2026) Independent newsrooms across Southeast Asia marked World Press Freedom Day 2026 with a clear message: rebuild the internet into a space that serves people, protects facts, and allows journalism to survive.
In a joint manifesto, journalists said the digital space is now working against both the public and the media. Their main call is simple but urgent — create an internet where humans thrive, not one controlled by profit-driven platforms.
“Trust is dead on the internet,” the manifesto said, describing how audiences are now second-guessing what they see online.
The statement pointed to the growing spread of false information online, made worse by AI-generated content and deepfakes. This flood of misleading content, they said, is drowning out credible reporting and making people doubt even verified news.
Newsrooms also raised concerns about how large tech companies control what people see. Changes in social media algorithms have reduced the visibility of news, making it harder for readers to find reliable information.
At the same time, journalists said the business side of news is weakening. Big Tech companies now take most of the global digital advertising revenue, while some AI systems use news content without paying publishers. These pressures have led to job losses, shrinking newsrooms, and even closures of media outlets.
“These challenges are not just about journalism,” the manifesto stressed. “They affect people’s access to truthful information.”
In response, journalists are calling for concrete changes.
They urged tech platforms to make their algorithms transparent and to prioritize accurate, high-quality information. They also pushed for the creation of digital spaces where facts are easier to find and not buried under misleading content.
The manifesto also called on citizens, communities, and other media groups to work together to improve the online space.
“Only by working together can we take back the internet,” the statement said, encouraging what it described as “radical collaboration.”
For journalists, the issue goes beyond press freedom. It is about protecting the public’s right to reliable information, especially in times of crisis, elections, and conflict.
As newsrooms in Mindanao and across the Southeast Asian region continue to face these challenges, the message from this year’s World Press Freedom Day is clear: the future of journalism depends on building a digital space where truth can still be seen, trusted, and shared. (BukidnonNews.Net)
Editor’s Note: This story aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 16, highlighting the need to protect press freedom and ensure access to credible information amid disinformation and opaque algorithms. It also connects to Sustainable Development Goal 9 and Sustainable Development Goal 10, pointing to unequal visibility for independent media and the need for a fair, people-centered digital space.
