On media killings and AIDS reporting

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is launching two important projects tonight at 7 pm in Newsdesk Cafe (Sct. Madrinan cor. Sct. Tobias, Quezon City, near Music 21 in Timog).

1. Twenty Steps to Safety
- featuring NUJP's "Reporter's Notebook" which contains important safety tips for journalists and posters that can be displayed in newsrooms and press offices.

2. HIV/AIDS Media Guide
- An International Federation of Journalists and NUJP reporting guide and research results on media reporting of HIV/AIDS

NUJP's Christmas party follows right after the event at 8 p.m.


From NUJP's Joe Torres and Weng Paraan:

December 17, 2006

Dear friends,

We may well look back at 2006 as another annus horribilis for Philippine media.

We lost at least 10 more of our colleagues even as the authorities continue to shirk their duty to solve the ever growing number of killings and bring the gunmen and masterminds to justice or actually seem to justify these crimes by hinting that the victims brought their fates on themselves. The First Gentleman set his own record at the expense of 43 of our colleagues who he has sued for libel.

And yet it was also a year of triumphs for the independent Philippine press.

We can always look back on this year with pride at the unity we showed as we defied the Arroyo government's threats and attempts to muzzle us, by force if needed, during the short-lived state of emergency. It was the same oneness we displayed when more than 600 of us signed the petition for the decriminalization of libel.

So as the year closes, we in the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines wish to invite you, dear colleagues, friends, partners and supporters to join us for a Christmas party on December 19, 8 p.m. at the NEWSDESK CAFE (Sct. Madrinan cor. Sct. Tobias, Quezon City, near Music 21 in Timog).

This is the least we can do to express our gratitude and appreciation to you who have stood with us, marched with us, raged with us and rejoiced with us and to solicit once more your company in what will undoubtedly be more challenges in the year to come.

Together, we shall prevail.


Yours truly,

Jose Torres Jr.
Chairperson


Rowena Carranza-Paraan
Secretary-General