Media group pushes back on NUJP over Israel-sponsored trips

Says joining the visit does not compromise editorial independence.

A media group has pushed back against the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), defending the participation of Filipino journalists in an Israel study visit and rejecting concerns that such trips compromise editorial independence.

In a statement sent to radar, The Philippine Business and News (THEPHILBIZNEWS) said it took offense at what it described as an “irresponsible, reckless, and unfounded characterization” of journalists who accepted an invitation to participate in the visit.

Monsi Alfonso Serrano, founder of THEPHILBIZNEWS and one of the journalists who joined the Israel study visit, said journalists should not be judged simply for accepting an invitation, arguing that their experiences, questions and subsequent reporting should be the basis for assessing their professional judgment and independence.

The rebuttal follows the NUJP’s August 10 call for Filipino journalists and newsrooms to reject Israel-sponsored media trips. The union cited concerns that such junkets can compromise journalistic independence and contribute to a one-sided portrayal of the war in Gaza.

The NUJP also 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 an arrangement is intended to cultivate favorable coverage.

The guide separately calls on journalists to protect their independence and avoid conflicts of interest that could affect their professional judgment.

The union’s statement also pointed to restrictions on independent foreign reporting from Gaza and the killing of journalists in the conflict as reasons for rejecting such offers.

THEPHILBIZNEWS, meanwhile, said participation in such trips does not mean surrendering editorial independence, adding that the hosts did not dictate what journalists should write or what questions they should ask.

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