Public Journalism: Regaining Lost Freedom: Grassroots Newspapers Bring Benefits of Press Freedom to Philippines Countryside

The Philippines, known as the bulwark of democracy in Asia, has the “freest” press in the region. But people outside of Manila complain they have been deprived of the benefits of the printed word. Coverage of Manila newspapers has been confined mainly in the capital; there are no community newspapers in most of the towns and cities in the countryside where majority of Filipinos live (population: 101 million). Despite its limited coverage, the Philippine press has attracted worldwide attention. The international press describes the Philippines as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists ---more than 300 journalists have been murdered in the past several years. The book traces the roots of the problems of the Philippine press. Reuters reporter Joel Palacios recounts the travails of a muzzled press under strongman Ferdinand Marcos, and cites public journalism, or civic journalism, as one of the best ways to address the people’s need for news and information in the rural areas. Palacios gives a complete account of the events that led to the “People Power” revolt that catapulted Corazon Aquino to power. He gives stark details of massacre of civilians by the military, behind-the-scene report of the coup against Marcos, and humorous episodes in the battle for hearts and minds of the people. The book tells the rise and fall of the Marcos regime, the predicament of a censored press and the benefits of public journalism. The book hopes to clear a lot of myths surrounding the “people power” revolt and rise of Aquino to the presidency.