Against All Odds: Journalist Resistance against State Disinformation in the Philippines

In the Philippines, disinformation and authoritarian rhetoric and governance accompanied a sharp decline in the respect for civil liberties and democratic institutions. This persistent culture of impunity doubly impacts journalists. This article asks: Despite a persevering culture of impunity and violence against media, low public trust, and authoritarian governance coupled with authoritarian nostalgia, why is it that journalists continue to lead the charge in the anti-disinformation movement? Subsequently, how do journalists persist in their efforts in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges? We found that journalists grappled with issues of (1) sustainability in fact-checking and (2) safety and security due to state repression and adjusted by pursuing collectivized operations and collaborative endeavors. They remain in the anti-disinformation frontlines and respond to these extrinsic challenges by drawing from passion and personal interests (intrinsic motivations). This mismatch between the extrinsic nature of challenges and intrinsic motivations to stay renders journalist resistance as volatile and unsustainable. This article provides empirical evidence to support diversified anti-disinformation spaces addressing disinformation simultaneously across multiple fronts by showing how sole reliance on journalist-centric approaches can harm both anti-disinformation movements and journalists themselves.