with the Tinig ng Plaridel, The Manila Collegian, UP Baguio Outcrop, Tug-ani, NCPAG – Umalohokan, Today’s Carolinian and UPLB Perspective
For years, campus journalism has proven its power to ignite criticality among the youth and encourage the pursuit of the truth. When the country was put under Martial Law and traditional media was controlled by the Marcos regime, student publications continued the journalistic mandate to act as watchdogs alongside the alternative press.
Today, when the country suffers from a global health crisis and mobility is limited, they work just as hard to tell the stories of their community. When narratives in the mainstream are restrained by the powers that be, student journalists step up to amplify the real plight of the marginalized.
Until now, student journalists play a crucial role in questioning the status quo, holding authorities accountable and finding the truth. Yet no matter how vital, this power has constantly been repressed as despots and dictators rely on the suppression of basic freedom of expression in seizing political power.
During these times, the suffering of mainstream media also trickles down to the campus press.
According to the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, there have been almost 1,000 violations of campus press freedom since 2010. From administrative intervention and defunding of student publications to censorship of editorial contents and harassment of student journalists — these violations are threatening yet often overlooked.
Despite Republic Act 7079 or Campus Journalism Act of 1991, violations against campus press receive no attention. This spineless law that promises safe spaces for campus journalists condones transgressions due to its lack of a penalty clause. It provides school administrations a leeway to commit offense after offense and get away without any punishments.
Even worse, the passage of the Anti-Terror Law has made student journalists even more vulnerable to state repression and intimidation. With the state shamelessly branding academic institutions as breeding grounds for communist rebels, student publications who are critical of the government have also sadly become victims of red-tagging. This is made apparent by the Armed Forces of the Philippines recently branding La Solidaridad as one of the recruitment grounds of terrorist groups within the University of the Philippines.
Now more than ever, with freedom of the press at stake, we need to support student journalists who are committed to the practice of professional and ethical journalism and bolder in their call to uphold press freedom.
With threats awaiting student journalists who remain true to their mandate, we call for the repeal of the existing Campus Journalism Act and a replacement with one that can effectively uphold campus press freedom. We need not a toothless law that provides no more than a mere promise. We demand one that gives actual protection.
The pandemic has already challenged the way we find and tell stories, but with the government trying to control mass communication channels, bringing important information and news to the masses has become even more challenging. Student journalists are hence asked to come to the fore and forward the stories of their communities.
No amount of suppression and repression should stop them from seeking and telling stories that need to be told.
As student journalists, we are taught the tradition of finding truth while holding authorities accountable. Beyond the four corners of the classroom is a bigger fight where journalists are called to put these lessons into action. It is a crucial time for us to actively and consciously side with the truth.
Student journalists have proven their ability to withstand suppression from the powers that be. The long history of our fight to uphold press freedom can attest to that.
We must not cower. When campus press freedom is held at gunpoint, we fight with the tip of our pens sharper, our words bolder and our voices louder.
#DefendPressFreedom
