Philippine media watchdog Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility to shut down

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, a key media watchdog in the Philippines, will close its doors on September 30, according to executive director Melinda Quintos de Jesus. The decision follows a board assessment that the organization no longer has the financial resources needed to sustain its work. Over nearly four decades, CMFR examined media practices, defended the press against intimidation, recorded attacks on journalists, and offered training on covering vulnerable groups and crises.

Funding that once came from Philippine and foreign donors has become increasingly hard to secure. The shutdown marks the loss of an institution that chronicled threats to the press and upheld journalistic standards. Quintos de Jesus thanked supporters for their contributions throughout the center’s history.