WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Philippine Media Watchdog CMFR to Close After 37 Years
WHY IT MATTERS
The closure of CMFR highlights the challenges faced by independent media organizations in the Philippines, where funding has become increasingly difficult to secure, leaving a void in the country's media landscape and potentially undermining press freedom.
What happened
The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) will close on September 30 due to a lack of resources. The organization, which had been a watchdog over Philippine democracy for nearly four decades, struggled to secure funding from Philippine and international donors.
CMFR had played a distinctive role in Philippine journalism, examining media conduct, defending the press, and documenting attacks on journalists and news organizations. It also promoted media ethics, honored excellence in journalism, and trained reporters to cover specific topics.
The closing of CMFR marks the disappearance of an institution that documented the history of Philippine journalism and its challenges.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Philippine media watchdog CMFR is closing
Rappler · Herbie Gomez · Discovery only; publisher copyright terms apply