Stop ‘red-tagging’ of campus journalists

By Alex P. Vidal

 

“Without student journalists, it becomes difficult to shed light on the flaws and shortcomings of educational institutions that must be addressed to promote the general welfare of the students.”—Joshua Corcuera

 

DAILY Guardian columnist Joshua Corcuera wrote a very nice and interesting article about the continuing struggles of campus press in the Philippines.

Reading his column entitled, “The struggles of the campus press” dated September 10, 2020, brought my memory back to the years when I was an active “catalyst of change” as a campus writer immediately after the EDSA Revolution when democracy was “restored” after the departure of the Marcos family on February 25, 1986 (four weeks earlier, I managed to shake the hand of then reelectionist President Ferdinand E. Marcos in the platform built inside the old Iloilo Sports Complex when he officially declared the West Visayas State College as the “West Visayas State University (WVSU)”, which had been converted through Presidential Decree No. 2019. But this is another story.)

Through Mr. Corcuera’s column, I learned that the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) is still active today (pardon my ignorance).

I thought when I attended the first and, perhaps, last National Congress of the CEGP-Reform Movement (CEGP-RM) in Baguio City in December 1987 (together with fellow campus writers then, Dr. Ricky Aballena, and the late Ivan Suansing), the original CEGP, the oldest, broadest, and only-existing intercollegiate alliance of student publications in the Asia-Pacific founded in 1931, had “breathed its last.”

I was wrong. CEGP is still alive and kicking; CEGP-RM is the one “dead” (what is there to “reform”, in the first place, when the original “movement” is still burning and continues to pick up the cudgels for campus journalism embattled by the reported relentless red-tagging by the Armed Forces of the Philippines?).

Truly, “A drop of Ink May Make a Million Think” by Lord Byron remains to be the CEGP’s inspiring battlecry.

 

-o0o-

 

Let me share Mr. Corcuera’s article where he exhorted all the men and women of letters “to be critical so that issues affecting the oppressed and the marginalized can be brought into the conscience of the community, and consequently, such issues can be addressed and resolved in favor of the aggrieved party.”:

I have been a student journalist for over a year now as I write this opinion piece. As a staff writer for the autonomous and official student publication in an enormous university in Manila, I would say as of now that things are generally fine. Fundamental issues such as funds seem to be sufficient in printing issues, and my fellow student journalists have a proper, albeit small, office to fulfill our duties. Take note, though, that there are some issues, as expected, to be addressed and resolved just like any organization.

However, the situation I find myself seems or appears to be privileged because other student publications are facing grave and serious concerns. When I joined an assembly for the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) — which was attended by other student journalists from other universities in Manila as well — the campus press continued to face struggles and be oppressed in several issues.

Last July this year, CEGP filed a complaint at the Commission on Higher Education and Commission on Human Rights, claiming that members are being red-tagged or being accused of being part of the armed communist insurgency. This is true especially if one would look at social media. For instance, critical members of the press including student journalists are being accused by some to be members of the New People’s Army even if there is no concrete evidence supporting such a claim.

Despite the Campus Journalism Act of 1991, members of the campus press are still in need of more protection than ever against various forms of campus press freedom violations. According to CEGP, there have been almost a thousand violations against student publications since 2010. These violations include — but not limited to — harassment of student journalists, meddling with editorial policies, administrative intervention, withholding and looting of publication funds, and actual censorship of editorial content, among others.

To cite an example, ten students from Miriam College in 1994 were suspended for the articles they write. While at AMA University, a student publication was closed three times since 1997 due to the publication of articles that were allegedly critical of the school.

Just like journalists, the student press must be given the right to cover pressing matters within their community independently and without any threat, intimidation, and violence. Without student journalists, it becomes difficult to shed light on the flaws and shortcomings of educational institutions that must be addressed to promote the general welfare of the students.

Even if the campus press is critical of its reporting regarding the issues affecting their respective educational institutions, such a perspective must still be respected and welcomed. As a matter of fact, the press needs to be critical so that issues affecting the oppressed and the marginalized can be brought into the conscience of the community, and consequently, such issues can be addressed and resolved in favor of the aggrieved party.

It is imperative to take note that student journalists would one day be the torch of the truth in society. Henceforth, as we fight for press freedom, remember fighting for student journalists as well, for they play a crucial role in the future of Philippine democracy, and ultimately, in speaking the truth to power.

 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)