Women journos undeterred on investigative reporting amid gender-based attacks

From the underlying issues women journalists face to their transformative role on modern journalism, PCIJ Executive Director Ms. Carmela Fonbuena and IAWRT - Philippines Deputy Head, Ms. Janess Ann Ellao both took the stage at PUP Journalism Guild’s March PeryodisTalks, themed “Female Storytellers: The Role of Women Journalists in Shaping Journalism,” held at the PUP College of Communication AVR on March 26.

The Transforming Landscape of Modern Journalism

Fonbuena, currently a freelance journalist, leads the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and did multiple stories for the organization, including a report on the Online Sexual Exploitation of Children by Australians in 2019.

Fonbuena first-handedly experienced the transformation of women in journalism, from being columnists to now being beat reporters. She has covered several large-scale stories affecting women such as the Mail Order Brides, the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill, and the 2017 Marawi Siege.

Women have a great role in transforming modern journalism with feminist ideals shaping its evolving landscape, Fonbuena said. She once asked ChatGPT if she was a feminist journalist. The chatbot described her as a journalist covering marginalized communities rather than defining her strictly as a feminist. This prompted her to reflect on her early journalism career in the 2000s, when feminism was seen more as advocacy and rarely embraced by beat reporters.

Fonbuena emphasized that journalism should focus on stories, not journalists themselves, recalling that one of her investigative reports nearly led to her being investigated by the Senate. However, she acknowledged that modern journalism is shifting, where personalities often overshadow institutions. She stressed the need to uphold investigative journalism’s principles while adapting to new challenges, also warning that journalism’s future is threatened by tech giants prioritizing profit over public good.

Throughout her investigative career, Fonbuena has exposed gender violence, particularly in the exploitative mail-order bride industry. She recalled how, early in her career, these advertisements were published openly in newspapers—a grim reminder of how normalized such exploitation once was. She shared the story of a woman who narrowly avoided being forced into marriage with a Korean national thanks to intervention efforts. Years later, her reporting on online sexual exploitation—particularly Australian pedophiles funding child abuse through financial channels like Westpac—led to a four-part investigative series that exposed these networks. Her work played a key role in prompting the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to launch crackdowns on online child sex rings, a victory Fonbuena owes to the power of sustained investigative journalism.

She also discussed  female leadership in conflict zones, highlighting her reporting on Samira Gutoc, a social worker and peace advocate whose contributions to the Mindanao peace process defied cultural and institutional barriers. Gutoc’s determination to continue peace efforts,even after the military denied her access to critical resources,illustrated what Fonbuena described as the quiet strength of women working behind the scenes in male-dominated spaces. She praised such resilience, emphasizing that these stories reflect the often-overlooked impact of female leadership in driving social change.

Young journalists are encouraged to embrace confidence and stand firm in their pursuit of truth, also sharing how she saw herself in the next generation of reporters.

The Price of Resilience

Ellao, currently the deputy head of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) - Philippines, also worked for the alternative media outlet Bulatlat in the late 2000s. Her talk, “Breaking Barriers: The Resilience of Women Journalists in the Philippines,” exposed the brutal reality of the country’s media landscape—one dominated by corporate greed, exploitation, and a culture that routinely endangers female journalists.

She had a share of experiences regarding the resilience of female journalists in the Philippines, citing issues journalists face such as being overworked and underpaid, reporting in a hostile environment against journalists, the prevailing threat of sexual harassment and assault by those in power, and the issue of micro-agression against female journalists.  

Media ownership has dwindled from over 50 companies in the 1980s to just six today, turning journalism into a profit-driven industry that neglects its workforce. Risk allowances are now largely reserved for major media corporations, leaving community journalists—like Ellao herself—vulnerable and unsupported. Digitalization, she explained, has made journalism even more grueling, forcing reporters to work tirelessly across television, radio, and online platforms. Yet despite the endless workload, pay remains dismal, particularly in profit-driven media companies.  

For women journalists, the dangers are even greater. Ellao exposed the rampant harassment that female reporters face, from catcalling to outright sexual assault, that are often ignored or excused by media management. Worse still, elected officials frequently exploit the beat system to target women journalists, forcing them to endure repeated abuse.   

Gender-based discrimination silences female reporters, Ellao also recalled. Instead of addressing harassment, editors often punish victims by removing them from their preferred beats. For instance, a journalist investigating a vice governor’s corruption was reportedly told to “go on a diet” before her work would be taken seriously.  

Ellao’s stories laid bare an industry that repeatedly fails to protect — or even acknowledge — the struggles of women journalists. Yet despite these challenges, she underscored the unbreakable resilience of women in Philippine media. They continue to push forward, even when their safety, dignity, and livelihoods are constantly under threat. 

Her message was clear: Women journalists are not just surviving in this broken system — they are fighting tooth and nail to break it down and rebuild something stronger. Despite these relentless obstacles, Ellao underscored the resilience of women journalists who continue to fight for truth, even as they face threats to their safety, dignity, and careers.

As their talk concluded and the audience posed critical questions, the speakers emphasized the immense challenges, such as the overarching misogyny inflicted by men, women in media endure—not just in breaking barriers, but also in safeguarding their well-being while navigating these obstacles. Fonbuena and Ellao stressed that acknowledging these struggles isn’t enough; meaningful solutions must be developed to create lasting change and positively impact the lives of women journalists. 

Article: Kyan Miguel San Agustin

Graphics: Keren Hope De Leon