Traders Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila
23 April 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III keynoted the Philippine Press Institute’s 16th Philippine Press Forum held at Traders Hotel Manila in Pasay City.

With the theme “Media Accountability and Public Engagement”, President Aquino talked on the protection and preservation of press freedom and democracy. This is the first time that a President served as a speaker in a PPI Forum.

President Aquino also addressed the Philippine Media’s negativism with regards to the country. He said that if the negativism will carry on, a lot of nations will continue to question their travel safety in the country. He stated that if the media will balance the good news from the bad and consider that every word can affect the lives of every Filipino, the collective desires for the country can easily be achieved.

PPI is celebrating its 48th founding anniversary since 1964 and 25th year since its revival in 1987, a year after the fall of martial-law regime. Its key responsibility is to protect press freedom and advocate ethical standards for the professional development of the Filipino journalists. The PPI National Press forum is an annual gathering of owners, publishers and editors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao representing 72 publications. The forum tackled issues regarding the professional and ethical practice of journalism.

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