Depredador(a)

Rodrigo DUTERTE

Presidente de la República de Filipinas desde el 30 de junio de 2016

Depredador desde que llegó al poder

Filipinas, 138º/ 180 en la Clasificación Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa 2021

Dear [Name of Candidate],

I am writing to ask you what you plan to do to defend the First Amendment, freedom of the press, and the fundamental rights of journalists to practice their profession freely in what has become an increasingly hostile environment for information and news providers.

The United States, which enshrines press freedom in the First Amendment of its Constitution, is currently witnessing a drastic decline in media freedom. On June 28, one of the most horrific attacks on press freedom in the United States occurred when five employees, including four reporters, were killed at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. According to the US Press Freedom Tracker, which comprehensively documents press freedom violations in the US committed by national, state, and local authorities as well as private individuals, 33 journalists were arrested, 43 were physically attacked, and 15 seizures of journalists’ equipment occurred in 2017. In one of these incidents, Rep. Greg Gianforte physically assaulted a Guardian journalist the night before his state’s election. While covering the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, journalists were impersonated on social media, impeding their ability to accurately investigate the facts and disseminate information which could be vital to preventing a similar tragedy. This hostility towards the press not only risks compromising the American public’s right to be informed through journalists’ reporting, but can also degrade the public’s trust in the media itself.

This is not a partisan issue; it is a fundamental right that impacts every American no matter their politics. Journalism is at the crux of our democracy, and communities everywhere rely on journalists to provide them with information that is essential to their daily decision-making processes. It was local investigative journalist Curt Guyette who broke the story about Flint, Michigan’s lack of access to clean water in 2014, prompting years of class-action lawsuits, protests, and subsequent federal assistance to the city in order to try to resolve the crisis. Reporters Megan Twohey, Jodi Kantor, and Ronan Farrow publicized sexual assault allegations against influential Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017, leading to the ubiquitous and powerful #MeToo movement which brought decades of sexual abuse and harassment across multiple industries to light.

Yet freedom of the press in the US is currently in dire need of congressional support. It is our civic duty as one of the world’s leading democracies to uphold principles that support and protect the rights of journalists so that they may hold those in power accountable and ensure an informed and engaged community.

If you are elected, what do you plan to do to protect this utterly essential component of our democracy? What are your plans to protect the public’s right to be informed through a free and independent press?

Sincerely,
[Your name]

Hello, my name is _______ and I am from [city, state].

I’m calling to let you know that [candidate/representative]'s stance on freedom of the press is extremely important in my decision to vote. I feel that this is not a partisan issue, but a fundamental right that impacts every American no matter their politics.

I have become increasingly concerned with the growing climate of hostility for journalists in this country, and I would like for [candidate/representative] to publicly address what they will do to defend press freedom if [he/she] is elected.

Thank you.

Freedom of the press is suffering in the US. @[yourcandidate] if you are elected to serve in Congress, what are your plans to protect journalists and our right to be informed? Will you #DefendPressFreedom?

Democracy depends on a free and independent press and its ability to hold those in power accountable. [@yourcandidate] will you take measures to protect journalism and the First Amendment? Will you #DefendPressFreedom?

In June, four reporters were murdered in an appalling targeted attack on the Capital Gazette and freedom of the press. [@yourcandidate] what will you do to address the growing threat to journalists in this country? #DefendPressFreedom

Press freedom is in steady decline in the US. I want my representative to defend the work of journalists as well as my right to be informed. [@yourcandidate] if you are elected what will you do to protect a free press? #DefendPressFreedom

Journalists play a crucial role in our democracy by keeping us informed and holding those in power accountable. And yet in the US, attacks on journalists are becoming more common, undermining the media's role and creating opportunities for government overreach, the erosion of press freedom, and impeding our right to be informed. I’m contacting my candidates and encouraging them to defend press freedom during their midterm election campaign. Join me at DefendPressFreedom.com

A free press is essential to our democracy. Communities everywhere rely on journalists to report on our government’s actions and hold public figures accountable, providing us with the information we need to make decisions every day. And yet physical, verbal, and online attacks against journalists in the US are increasing at an astonishing rate. I’m contacting my candidates and encouraging them to defend press freedom during their midterm election campaign. You should too. Read more at DefendPressFreedom.com

Press freedom is declining in the US at an alarming rate. Physical, verbal, and online attacks against journalists have increased drastically in the last two years. As the US midterm elections approach, we must remind our congressional candidates that journalists play a crucial role in our democracy by keeping us informed and holding those in power accountable. I’m contacting my representatives and encouraging them to defend press freedom during their midterm election campaign. Join in and help me spread the word at DefendPressFreedom.com

MÉTODO DE DEPREDACIÓN: la “guerra total” contra la prensa independiente

A Rodrigo Duterte lo eligieron alcalde de la ciudad de Davao, en el sur del archipiélago filipino. Allí desarrolló, con el pretexto de la lucha contra la delincuencia, una forma de gobierno que respeta bien poco el Estado de derecho. Los medios locales se convierten inmediatamente en víctimas colaterales de su estilo brutal, que no tolera ni críticas ni matices a sus políticas. Su retórica manifiestamente populista, que le valió el apodo de “castigador” (“punisher”), fue lo que lo llevó a la presidencia en 2016. Su llegada al poder reveló las debilidades del sistema democrático filipino. Ante un poder ejecutivo sobredimensionado en torno a la figura del líder, los jueces que no siguen su línea son apartados, mientras que el Congreso, que actúa como un parlamento títere, respalda todas sus decisiones. Ampliamente apoyado por la comunidad empresarial, Rodrigo Duterte impone muy fácilmente su línea en los medios de comunicación pertenecientes a los magnates cercanos a él. En este contexto, es la prensa independiente la que asume el papel de contrapoder, con los riesgos que eso comporta. Gracias a las confabulaciones que mantiene en todos los engranajes del Estado, el presidente Duterte cuenta con un arsenal que le permite librar una “guerra total” contra los periodistas: denuncia falsa por difamación, por evasión fiscal o por infringir la legislación sobre el capital; revocación de licencias de radiodifusión; compra de medios de comunicación por parte de cómplices y control del personal de las redacciones; ciberacoso contra periodistas por parte de un ejército de trolls, etc.

OBJETIVOS PREDILECTOS: los últimos baluartes del contrapoder

Ante los excesos autoritarios de Rodrigo Duterte, un puñado de medios han querido investigar esta política. “No quiero amenazarlos, pero se arriesgan a que les salga el tiro por la culata“, les advirtió el temperamental presidente en marzo de 2017. Entre estos medios se contaba el diario de referencia del archipiélago, el Philippine Daily Inquirer, que fue comprado un año después, y su redacción se vio obligada a entrar por el aro. Su segundo objetivo fue la principal red audiovisual de el país, ABS-CBN: en julio de 2020, el parlamento, rendido al presidente, enterró al grupo al denegarle su licencia de emisión. El último bastión de la libertad de prensa lo constituyen el digital de información Rappler y su directora, Maria Ressa. Acosada por las denuncias sistemáticas del clan Duterte, se arriesga a que la condenen a una pena acumulada de cien años de prisión.

DISCURSO OFICIAL: el insulto

"El hecho de que seas periodista no significa que vayas a escapar del asesinato si eres un hijo de puta". (30 de junio de 2016, durante su toma de posesión).

Publié le 05.07.2021