21/05/2026
STATEMENT | CEGP – NIR: Misogyny Has No Place in Journalism
The College Editor’s Guild of the Philippines – Negros Island Region vehemently condemns the reprehensible behavior of anchor Jean Paul Generoso of K5 News FM Bacolod 101.5, who casually uttered misogynistic and r**e‑related remarks against a colleague during a live report on abuse cases involving women and children.
Instead of denouncing such violence, Generoso mocked the issue by repeatedly asking his female colleague if he could r**e her so that he might also be imprisoned. This is not an isolated lapse but a glaring symptom of entrenched misogyny and r**e culture that continues to poison our institutions.
This incident is not a mere lapse in judgment but a grave violation of ethical reportage and a direct assault on the dignity of women in the newsroom. Journalism must be practiced in spaces free from harassment, intimidation, and gender-based violence. And to normalize such behavior is to betray the very principles of press freedom and public accountability.
While an apology was later issued, dismissing the act as “careless,” the livestream itself captured the persistence of Generoso’s remarks, debunking the claim as mere‘carelessness.’ It is the deliberate perpetuation of misogyny in a professional space where respect and integrity should be paramount.
Therefore, CEGP–NIR asserts that: [1] No newsroom should ever tolerate harassment. Ethical journalism demands environments where reporters, especially women are protected, respected, and empowered. [2] Generoso’s actions erode public trust. When anchors themselves perpetuate misogyny, they undermine the credibility of the institution they represent. [3] Accountability must go beyond apology. A mere statement of regret cannot erase the harm inflicted. Concrete measures must be taken to ensure that such violations are never repeated.
This incident is symptomatic of a broader culture that trivializes violence against women. As campus journalists, we refuse to be silent. We stand in solidarity with the female reporter subjected to this harassment and with all women in the media who continue to face systemic misogyny.
Anchors and journalists, as public figures, carry an even greater responsibility with their words shape public discourse. To trivialize r**e or perpetuate misogyny on air is not only a violation of journalistic ethics but also a breach of national and local laws designed to protect women and marginalized groups. Accountability therefore demands more than apology but must be liable for disciplinary action, institutional safeguards, and adherence to the legal mandate that ensures media spaces remain free from harassment and violence.
CEGP–NIR calls on: [1] K5 News FM Bacolod to take decisive disciplinary action against Generoso and to implement safeguards that protect women in its newsroom. [2] Media institutions to uphold ethical standards and foster workplaces free from harassment. [3] The public demands accountability and resist the normalization of misogyny in journalism.
The Guild also reiterates that misogyny and r**e culture have no place in the newsroom, nor in any space where truth is pursued and justice is defended. These toxic patterns are not isolated acts but entrenched systems of violence that silence voices, distort narratives, and perpetuate harm especially against women. Journalism must never be weaponized as a platform for harassment, abuse, or the normalization of discrimination.
Instead, it must stand as a tool of accountability and liberation exposing abuse, amplifying survivors, and challenging structures that enable impunity. Every newsroom, every publication, and every journalist carries the responsibility to build safe, ethical spaces where dignity is protected and voices are respected.
To tolerate misogyny is to betray the very essence of press freedom. To confront it is to honor journalism’s highest calling: to tell the truth, to defend the vulnerable, and to dismantle injustice.
