Cover Photo By Vincent Yap
Cover Photo By Vincent Yap.

End impunity with UJP-UP’s Break Free campaign


End impunity by unleashing the power of the media despite the democratic crisis in the Philippines with UJP-UP’s Break Free. #DefendPressFreedom #EndImpunity #BreakFree


By Krissy Sanchez | Thursday, 11 November 2021

In light of the attacks on press freedom under the Duterte administration, the Union of Journalists of the Philippines-University of the Philippines-Diliman (UJP-UP) will conduct its annual “Break Free” campaign this November with forums on the democratic crisis in the country and engaging activities exploring various media as form of protest.

 

“We must never forget those who died for the truth. We must fight for the freedom they stood for,” UJP-UP shared in their unity statement which opened their month-long Break Free campaign last Nov. 6.

 

To raise awareness on the culture of impunity and highlight the role of media in attaining justice, UJP-UPtogether with the UP Journalism Club, UP Diliman College of Mass Communication Student Council, UP Diliman University Student Council, and Malaya-UP Diliman—prepared activities for students and campus journalists from Nov. 12 to 27.

 

The schedule of events for Break Free 2021 can be seen below:

  • “Break Free Webinar on Cybersecurity” - Nov. 12 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. via Zoom
    • Co-organized by the Malaya Alliance, the webinar will tackle the current cybersecurity in the Philippines and propose measures students and campus journalists can learn to keep themselves, their assets, and their rights safe from attacks, both on-ground and online.
  • “Break Free Research Project” - Nov. 20 (tentative release)
    • In line with the campaign’s goal to raise awareness on the culture of impunity and improve media literacy among students, Break Free annually releases a research project on press-related issues. This year, the campaign project will focus on calling for justice for media practitioners by tackling media issues in the country caused by the attacks on press freedom. 
  • “Break Free Forum: Media Under a Democratic Crisis” - Nov. 22 from 1:00 p.m. onwards
    • To reveal the current state of media in the country, the webinar will highlight the role of journalists in the upcoming elections and address the challenges in the Philippine media landscape. The forum will focus on two topics: Asserting Critical Reportage Amid Media Attacks and Censorship and Ethical Journalism in Election Season.
  • “Break Free Online Protest” - Nov. 23 at 6:00 p.m via Zoom and Facebook and a social media rally at 8:00 p.m.
    • As Break Free aims to commemorate the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre which killed 58 peopleincluding 32 journalists—the online protest will take place during the Maguindanao Massacre Anniversary to gather student media organizations and publications to stand against impunity and defend press freedom.
  • “Break Free Online Art Exhibit” - launches on Nov. 27 from 6:00 p.m. onwards.
    • To wrap up the month-long campaign, Break Free will showcase chosen illustrations, literary pieces, and other creative works interpreting the call to end impunity and the fight for press freedom. Students from universities nationwide can submit their works to be featured in the exhibit through Google Forms. Break Free will be open for art submissions from Nov. 10 to Nov. 24.

 

Break Free is an annual campaign spearheaded by socio-political organization UJP-UP to promote media literacy and call for an end to impunity in commemoration of the Maguindanao Massacre.

 

For more information, visit Break Free’s Official Facebook Page.

Last updated: Thursday, 11 November 2021