Press freedom may seem as lofty as a bird soaring through the sky, yet beneath that graceful flight lies the weight of heavy chains. Heavy chains forged from fear, red-tagging, harassment, state censorship, and even the ultimate price of death. This is the harsh reality: journalists are relentlessly targeted, and laws meant to protect them are weaponized to silence dissent. The suppression of student publications is more than a violation of constitutional rights, but a dangerous blow to the very heart of our democracy.


In today's digital landscape, disinformation poses a significant challenge to student publications, especially as we observe World Press Freedom Day 2025. AI-driven misinformation and politically motivated disinformation campaigns now endanger the integrity and independence of student media, exposing campus journalists to both digital and institutional manipulation. 

As tactics become sophisticated, the urgency to defend campus press freedom grows, with student journalists facing mounting pressure to uphold truth amidst this assault. The impact of AI on press freedom is no longer a distant concern but a present-day crisis, particularly evident in the Philippines, where journalistic integrity is constantly under siege. 

AI has become a double-edged sword. In the wrong hands, it weakens public trust and amplifies lies. But when used ethically, it can empower the very voices it is being used to suppress. We must support truth-telling by ensuring student journalists are equipped with the tools—and the protections—they need to confront both traditional and digital threats. In an age driven by artificial intelligence and algorithms, the essential right to report should belong to alland not be limited to a select few.

Student publications are essential for fostering critical thought and nurturing young truth-tellers. However, this mission is under threat. 

Consider what happened at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, wherein its publication The SPARK published a pre-election poll showing a prominent politician trailing his opponent. In response, the college administration pressured them to retract the story, while political allies labeled the student journalists as "fake news" purveyors. The associate editor even faced targeted harassment on social media, with a Facebook page linked to the political clan sharing his photo and calling him biased.

Despite the Philippines improved its ranking by 18 spots in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index reaching a score of 49.57, the reality for many journalists, especially student journalists, remains dire. The prolonged detention of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio since July 2020 exemplifies the ongoing censorship and repression of press freedom. Journalists face risks of personal attacks, legal persecution, and violence, creating a chilling environment for dissent. 

Campus publications are increasingly subject to suppression and red-tagging, undermining their credibility and threatening the safety of student journalists. The 2024 Global Impunity Index ranks the Philippines ninth out of 13 countries, reflecting persistent violence against journalists without adequate legal consequences, underscoring that violence against the press still thrives without consequence and the urgent need to address impunity to protect media professionals.

In recent times, the Philippines has seen a concerning revival of red-tagging—echoing the dark period of the Marcos dictatorship—where people, such as student journalists and activists, are unjustly branded as communists or terrorists without any proof. This strategy frequently starts with online claims, which are boosted by troll networks, and can escalate into real-world danger.

Recent Amnesty International reports reveal how online accusations from troll networks and state-linked groups like NTF-ELCAC have led to harassment and criminalization of youth activists under the Anti-Terrorism Act. This trend stifles dissent and reflects authoritarian tactics similar to those of the Marcos dictatorship, threatening press freedom and democratic discourse. Without protective legislation like the Campus Press Freedom and FOI Bills, red-tagging will keep silencing the next generation of truth-tellers amidst ongoing disinformation.

Take Atenews, the student publication of Ateneo de Davao University. After daring to voice support for the International Criminal Court’s investigation into human rights abuses committed under former President Rodrigo Duterte, they became virtual targets. Trolls descended on their social media, inundating their posts with chilling death and rape threats, branding the staff as communist sympathizers. To some, this may read like mere digital chaos. But history tells a different tale. Benjaline Hernandez, once an editor of Atenews, faced the same red-tagging in the early 2000s and ultimately lost her life to government forces. 

Red-tagging is not a tool for protecting national security; it’s a brutal means of stifling dissent and closing down scrutiny. When those in power turn their sights on students—the youngest and often the bravest defenders of truth—it’s a stark reminder of how desperate they are to evade accountability. The stakes are high, and the fight for truth is more crucial than ever.

The landscape for professional media in the Philippines is no less grim, with almost 200 journalists losing their lives since the restoration of democracy in 1986, highlighting a troubling culture of impunity. The recent assassination of veteran journalist Juan “Johnny” Dayang, just before World Press Freedom Day, underscores the dangers faced by those who speak truth to power. He was the fifth journalist killed under President Marcos Jr. 's term. If seasoned professionals are not safe, what hope is there for young campus journalists?

Our democracy now faces a dual threat: state-backed repression and a digital ecosystem flooded with disinformation. With over 86 million Filipinos active on social media, platforms like Facebook and TikTok are battlegrounds where facts compete and often lose against propaganda.

Well-funded troll farms often linked to political interests create a deceptive atmosphere, distorting vital issues and labeling honest journalism as “biased” or “anti-government.” Algorithms prioritize clicks over accuracy, allowing false narratives to spread six times faster than the truth, leaving the public misinformed and eroding their rights.

Despite this, Filipino journalists are rising to the challenge, defending the truth and advocating for an informed society that understands the stakes of their democracy. Stories continue to emerge, but true freedom is not just about numbers; it’s deeply connected to the environment where truth is pursued.

The suppression of student publications and the alarming rise of red-tagging are not isolated incidents; they are emblematic of the broader assault on press freedom in the Philippines. When student journalists are silenced by fear— when their voices are suppressed under the weight of censorship and threats, it’s not just an attack on individual rights—it is an attack on the very foundation of our democracy. The future of this nation depends on empowering these young truth-tellers, for they represent the hope of an informed society.

On World Press Freedom Day 2025, we confront a disquieting paradox: the proclaimed ideals of freedom starkly oppose the oppressive realities faced by student journalists in the Philippines. The looming threats of red-tagging, state-sponsored censorship, and violence are not distant concerns; they are immediate perils that stifle the voices of those who challenge the status quo. 

In a digital age meant to empower the exchange of ideas, we find instead a battleground where disinformation and intimidation flourish. This moment transcends a simple plea for enhanced press freedoms; it is an urgent call for justice and accountability in the face of blatant oppression. To broadcast the banner of press freedom while simultaneously silencing the brave voices of students is not just hypocritical; it is a dangerous erosion of democratic values.

The survival of Philippine democracy hinges on our collective willingness to confront these brutal realities. Will we merely bear witness as the last flicker of a free campus press fades into darkness, or will we rise to protect those who dare to question authority? 

The path forward is clear: pass the Campus Press Freedom and Freedom of Information Bills. Equip student journalists with the legal protections they need. Hold accountable those who engage in red-tagging. Strengthen digital media literacy to combat disinformation. And demand that academic institutions protect—not persecute—their student press.

The campus press soars with the courage to question, the audacity to expose, and the resolve to endure. But unless we act now—decisively, structurally, and collectively—they may continue to struggle alone. And they will die under threat in a nation that dares to call itself free.