5 Moms Who Are Also Tough Journalists

On World Press Freedom Day, we pay tribute to mom journalists who uphold the importance of the press despite the challenges they face.

Women have always been known to be multitaskers, especially those who work in the media. These women are not just running after stories but also mothers who come home after a long day of work in the newsroom. Some of them have even battled various harassment and threats and are heroes in their own right. On World Press Freedom Day, we list five of many Filipino mom journalists who continue to uphold the importance of Press Freedom and be mothers to their children, the people of the newsroom, and other institutions they serve.

1. Glenda Gloria, Executive Editor, Rappler.com

Glenda Gloria is a co-founder of Rappler, one of the top news sites in the Philippines. Prior to Rappler, she managed ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel from 2008 to 2011 as chief operating officer. Glenda also worked in several newspapers such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Manila Times. She co-founded Newsbreak and authored several books as well.

On top of running a newsroom full of young journalists, Glenda is a mother to a teenage daughter.

2. Anne Krueger, Community Journalist

It’s been three years since Anne Krueger found herself arrested along with 50 people for alleged possession of firearms and ammunition. She still continues to battle the case in Bacolod amidst telling stories of labor issues for Paghimutad.

Because of the harassment she has faced, Anne has relocated her six children to Manila. She is currently on bail while she and her husband Michael de la Concepcion continue their work as members of the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN).

3. Margarita Valle, Davao Today columnist

Fidelina Margarita Valle is a Davao Today columnist. She is known for writing stories on human rights, women’s issues and indigenous rights for MindaNews and some of them have been published in SunStar.

In 2019, Valle was in the headlines when she was arrested in Cagayan de Oro while on her way to her home in Davao. The police claimed that it was a mistaken identity but Valle’s family claimed that she has been targeted for her work.

Despite the harassment and threats against her, Valle continues to write stories, particularly of the Lumads in Mindanao.

4. Kimberlie Quitasol, Editor-in-Chief, Northern Dispatch

Kimberlie Quitasol works as editor-in-chief of the Northern Dispatch, an online news site in Baguio. After two years, the regional trial court in La Trinidad dismissed a cyber libel case against Kimberlie and one of Northern Dispatch’s reporters, Khim Abalos, regarding a case filed by B.Gen R’win Pagkalinawan, who was then the regional director of the Philippine National Police for the Cordillera region.

When she is not running the newsroom or reporting issues in the north, Kimberlie spends time with her family, particularly her children.

5. Pia Ranada Robles, Multimedia Reporter, Rappler.com

Pia covered several beats for Rappler, especially on environmental issues and national news. She became Rappler’s Malacañang reporter during the Duterte administration and found herself in the spotlight when she was barred from entering the Palace because of the hard-hitting stories the news site has been coming out with. Despite the harassment and trolling she has faced, Pia remains focused on her job as a journalist.

On top of her duties as a reporter, Pia is also a loving wife to her husband Drew, and their daughter. In 2022, Pia was one of the recipients of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service.

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