Campus journalists adapt amid press freedom challenges in Eastern Visayas
NORTHERN SAMAR, Philippines – As the campus press faces challenges to maintain its freedom, student journalists are finding ways to adapt in their pursuit of the truth.
A report on the state of the student-run press in the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) showed that out of 19 officially recognized student publications in the university system, only five are considered fully active.
Lack of funding and equipment, inadequate newsrooms, administrative meddling, censorship, understaffing, a lack of volunteers, a focus on “sunshine news,” and red-tagging were cited as some of the concerns voiced by campus journalists.
Despite these pressures, Trisha Mae Docil, editor-in-chief of The Pillar, reflected on the motivation of her fellow campus journalists and why they continue to persevere.
“In the cases of intimidation, administration intervention, censorship, and lack of fund, the members of the publication are able to resist these challenges through their relentless commitment to the publication and service to the masses,” Docil said.
The concerns were highlighted during Pagsubay, a journalism skills training workshop held from September 2 to 4 at the Farmers’ Training Center, UEP.
Hosted by The Pillar, the official student publication of the UEP main campus, Pagsubay, which means “to adapt,” emphasized the need for campus journalists to continue honing their skills despite the vulnerabilities brought by the ever-changing media landscape. The event brought together alumni, community journalists, and media representatives to share their expertise.
In addition to gaining journalistic insights, Pagsubay also tackled the issues faced by UEP student publications, revealing similarities in their experiences.
Bringing together the student publications across UEP was not without setbacks. The Pillar extended workshop invitations to satellite and college publications, which are usually not included in such events.
The nine campus publications which sent representatives were:
- The Pillar (UEP main campus)
- The Noumena (UEP Laoang campus)
- The Consignor (UEP Pedro Rebadulla Memorial Campus)
- The Spectrum (College of Arts and Communication)
- The Accents (College of Education)
- The Agritrends (College of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources)
- The Modem (College of Science)
- The Circular (College of Business Administration)
- The Echoes (College of Nursing)
According to Docil, budget requests for Pagsubay were repeatedly pushed back. A reduction of almost 74% from the original proposed budget allowed only five representatives per publication.
Docil said, “There were also a lot of revisions for our proposals and requests because it should be aligned to the budget allocated by the Board of Regents as opposed to our budget if it were calculated according to the student subscriptions or the publication fee.”
Fostering links
Pagsubay became more than just a university-centered journalism workshop; it provided an opportunity for UEP student publications to connect with one another.
Despite having to race against time, even taking a boat to reach the venue, Jerald Acebuche, editor-in-chief of The Noumena, the official student publication of UEP Laoang, emphasized the importance of camaraderie among the university’s student publications.
“Pagsubay can bring changes to campus and college publications through new-found knowledge. It offers an opportunity between and among them to build strong relationships, rally the call for a free press, and network with each other whenever one publication faces a problem,” said Acebuche.
Docil said that, despite facing repression from the school administration, it is crucial for campus press outlets to act as allies within the university, and for them to continue to assert their role in the institution’s decision-making and accountability.
“There will always be strength in numbers,” Docil said. “By forming a network that connects different publications, we can mobilize and empower them so their operations meet the specific needs of the students in their colleges. It creates a transcending bond that only we, as campus journalists, will understand, as it is something we desperately fight for.” – Rappler.com
Efren Cyril Bocar is a student journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar, enrolled in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. A managing editor of Amaranth, Cyril is an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2024.