Seven media organizations from Southeast Asia have come together to form a joint platform aimed at monitoring press freedom in the region. The organizations include the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) from Indonesia, the Association of Timor Leste Journalists, the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association, the Center for Independent Journalism in Malaysia, the Merdeka Media Movement in Malaysia, the National Union of Journalists Philippines, and Prachatai in Thailand. Launched in May 2023, the platform, known as pfmsea.org, provides real-time data on cases of violence against journalists and the media, as well as qualitative reports on press freedom in six countries. It also offers a mechanism for the public to report incidents of media violence.
Ika Ningtyas, the Secretary-General of Indonesia’s Alliance of Independent Journalists, spoke to Global Voices about the initiative. She explained that the platform was developed as a response to the increasing number of press freedom violations in the region. The network aims to make it easier for media organizations to collaborate and monitor incidents across borders.
The data collected by the platform is used to promote press freedom through various campaign strategies. In 2022, the participating organizations monitored 185 press freedom violations, while this year they have recorded 73 cases so far. The majority of cases involved physical attacks on journalists, followed by digital attacks. State actors were responsible for around 36.5% of the cases. Issues such as the forced closure of independent media outlets in Cambodia, the enforcement of repressive media laws in Indonesia, and the vilification of journalists in the Philippines have been highlighted by the platform.
Developing the monitoring platform has not been without its challenges. One of the main difficulties has been the diversity of legal and political environments across the six countries covered. However, despite these challenges, the network plans to expand its coverage by seeking partnerships with media organizations in Myanmar and Vietnam.
The joint platform for monitoring press freedom in Southeast Asia serves as an important step towards protecting journalists and upholding the principles of a free press in the region. By sharing data, promoting dialogue, and raising awareness, the organizations involved hope to combat the violations and challenges faced by journalists and media workers.
