.S. President Donald Trump has been a relentless critic of the press even before he became president. During his campaign, Trump railed against the media and popularized the term “fake news.”

After his election victory Trump never eased up on the press. In fact, he doubled down. And from the media’s perspective, Trumps first year in office provided newsmen with a wealth of material to use against him. His unorthodox behavior, and his playing fast and loose with the facts, has become fodder for serious journalists and late-night comedians alike.

Thanks to Trump, the words “fake news” are now used across the globe. And although attacking the media may seem innocuous to Americans, the New York Times has nevertheless described it as “increasingly dangerous.” Taking that paper’s perspective, and carrying it a step further, a recent editorial in the Toronto Star notes that the danger of Trump’s media attacks are more immediate on foreign media than on American media.

The Star’s insightful editorial states that “the most immediate danger seems to be abroad, where journalists routinely put their lives on the line to report on regimes with little tradition of democracy or a free press..

Trump’s attacks on the press gives even more license to those regimes to crack down on media, whose scrutiny they simply don’t like. It threatens burgeoning free speech rights and undermines faith in the media’s efforts to expose those government’s shortcomings.

Indeed, a report published in the Index on Censorship earlier this year found more than 20 political leaders worldwide, from both authoritarian and democratic regimes, had used the term ‘fake news’ to discredit journalism they did not like.”

Like Trump, President Rodrigo Duterte and members of his administration seem to use the term “fake news” a lot more these days. News stories that are critical of Duterte, or do not toe the government’s line, are often called fake news.

The problem for the Philippines is its democratic institutions are not as robust or as mature as those in the United States. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees, among other things, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. In addition, America has over 200 years of tradition that has strengthened those rights. Their roots run deep, and are not easily uprooted.

By Contrast, a free and independent Philippine press is relatively young and still without the deep roots or traditions to adequately protect members of the press. In addition, the almost two decades of dictatorial rule by Ferdinand Marcos has stunted the growth of democratic institutions meant to protect the people and the press. And who can forget the Maguindanao massacre in 2009, that killed 32 Philippine journalists in single day.

Thus, Philippine journalists may be putting their lives on the line whenever they publish or air anything controversial. Also, Philippine libel laws seem written to further intimidate the press. In addition, the significant rise extra-judicial killing (EJK) has already scared away, or silenced many in the profession.

The problem for the Philippines is that democracy can exist only with a free and independent press. When power is placed in the hands of the people, they need to know the truth in order to make educated choices in the ballot box. But when truth is manipulated by those in power, then the will of the people is likewise manipulated.

In the United States, with all its safeguards in place, Americans are only now finding out about Russia’s concerted effort to manipulate the outcome of their 2016 presidential election. Its use of fake social media accounts, and widespread use of trolls to alter popular opinion, should serve as a warning to all Filipinos. If it happened in the U.S., it most certainly can happen in the Philippines.

Philippine media will need to close ranks and speak with one voice against efforts to undermine it. It should also strengthen its ties to global institutions that promote a free press. But if instead, it cowers in fear, or allows itself to be reigned-in by those intent on hiding the truth, then Philippine democracy might soon be a thing of the past.

For the average Pinoy, it is important that we strive to become smarter consumers of the news. We must be steadfast in our support of a free and independent press. Filipinos, from all walks of life, must band together and push back against any effort to unlawfully constrain the media. Hopefully, over time the Philippines will develop its own homegrown traditions and institutions that will strengthen and protect press freedom well into the future.

Published 8/6/2018