The journalists’ union says such junkets can compromise journalistic independence and contribute to a one-sided portrayal of the war in Gaza.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is urging Filipino journalists and newsrooms to reject media trips sponsored by Israel, saying such junkets can compromise journalistic independence and contribute to a one-sided portrayal of the war in Gaza.
In a statement dated August 10, the NUJP cited its Ethical Guide for Filipino Journalists on Media Junkets, which says journalists should not accept all-expense-paid trips when there is no journalistic work involved or when the arrangement is intended to cultivate favorable coverage.
The statement comes a year after Israel reportedly sponsored a week-long trip for 16 Filipino journalists, which drew criticism from media and civil society groups over concerns that the itinerary could give participating reporters a predominantly Israeli government perspective on the conflict.
The delegation was confirmed by Israel’s embassy in August 2025, which said the trip was intended to expose the journalists to Israeli society, culture, and resilience. The NUJP now argues that such trips could compromise objectivity, particularly since independent foreign reporting from Gaza remains severely restricted.
More than two dozen international news organizations, including Reuters, the Associated Press, BBC, CNN, and The New York Times, called in April for Israel to allow foreign journalists independent access to Gaza, saying that firsthand reporting is necessary for journalists to verify accounts independently.
The union also pointed to the killing of journalists in Gaza as another reason for Filipino media workers to reject such offers, saying the scale of the deaths makes press freedom and journalist safety central concerns in the issue.
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