President Marcos has urged Filipino journalists "to keep pushing the boundaries" of their profession and never to compromise their principles as they innovate and adapt to technological changes.

Marcos said this as he graced the 50th Anniversary of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI). The PAPI was established in 1974 as a non-profit and non-stock media organization, with around 400 provincial publications and some national publications as regular members.

In his speech on Friday evening, Sept. 20, the President stressed the importance of responsible journalism in a democracy.

"It is a necessity for an informed and empowered citizenry to make the proper, intelligent, well-informed decisions about their leaders, situations, and condition," he said.

"I urge you to keep pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a journalist. Innovate. Adapt. But never compromise your principles," he added.

With this, President Marcos assured Filipino media practitioners of his administration's support as he urged them to "keep the light steady," no matter how fierce the storm.

"This Administration is here to support you in shaping our narrative as a people, not just for today’s headlines but for the history we are yet to create," he said.

"In this fight, we are the lighthouse keepers in the storm; that light that we keep must stay steady, even as the winds blow," he added.

"After all, the true measure of journalism is not just about telling stories and writing headlines; it is about standing firm even when the ground beneath our feet begins to shake," he continued.

'Protect the sanctity of facts'

Marcos likewise asked the public to help journalists protect the sanctity of facts amid the rise of new technology.

"So I call on every Filipino: do not just fight; lead the change. Verify, question, hold the line," he said.

"We have a duty to protect the sanctity of facts, not just as citizens, but as guardians of our shared reality. Sa Bagong Pilipinas, walang puwang ang kasinungalingan. Sama-sama tayong titindig sa katotohanan (Lies have no place in the Bagong Pilipinas. Together, we will stand for truth)," he added.

The President referred to new technology as a "different kind of enemy" due to the spread of misinformation, cyber-libel threats, and the relentless pressures that made ensuring press freedom more complex.

"Every post, every share, every careless click—these are our new battlegrounds," he said.

"From the anonymous troll farms to the deliberate spread of conspiracy theories, this fight has evolved far beyond the newsroom. It is now in the palm of every hand that scrolls through social media,” he added.

In this regard, President Marcos highlighted the government's Media and Information Literacy Campaign, which aims "to equip the public, youth especially, with skills to critically evaluate information that they consume and to help us fight misinformation and disinformation."

He likewise mentioned the PTFoMS' regional media summits aimed at promoting press freedom and responsible press, and its Memorandum of Agreement with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure the safety and protection of media practitioners covering elections.

Justice for slain journalists

President Marcos also called on journalists to remember the sacrifices of their comrades who lost their lives in the relentless pursuit of truth, mentioning Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa, Juan "DJ Johnny Walker" Jumalon, and Cresenciano Bundoquin.

He said journalists who died in the pursuit of their duty are not only names in a report but also faces with families, colleagues, and communities that grieve their loss.

"All our efforts to bring them justice is a testament to [the] belief that no story, however dangerous, is too small or too insignificant to be told," Marcos said.

"Be assured that we are doubling down on our commitment to protect our journalists and to uphold press freedom. We stand with you, hand in hand in this fight," he added.