Campus journalists from the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) National Capital Region (NCR) chapter joined the Black Friday Protest and supported the call to bring back ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The group joined the People’s Initiative for Reforms and Movement for Action (PIRMA) Kapamilya in front of ABS-CBN Sgt. Esguerra gate and lit candles to remember the shutdown of the ABS-CBN ahead of the 48th Martial Law commemoration. Aside from today under President Rodrigo Duterte, the shutdown happened only during martial law under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
“It was Marcos’ regime when ABS-CBN alongside thousands of media outfits including campus publications were forced to halt operations; and yet, the Duterte administration mimics the same tactic to deprive people of their basic rights and freedom,” said the group.
The group assailed the government for creating a crisis in democracy and press freedom with the shutdown of ABS-CBN and other attacks against media and freedom of expression, amid the ongoing global crisis in the pandemic and the economic and unemployment crisis in the country. They also said the closure of ABS-CBN is politically motivated.
“The president cared more to impose the Anti-Terror Bill, only to worsen the situation of COVID-19 pandemic when priorities should focus in the advancement of health, livelihood, and education among others,” said the group.
For the group, the shutdown of ABS-CBN and other similar attacks present the youth and campus journalists the challenge to continue to assert press freedom and freedom of expression.
Other challenges for campus journalists amid the pandemic
The group said the lockdown or quarantine restrictions for half a year now, the continued suspension of classes in public schools and distance education for almost two months now in most private schools also presented challenges to the work of campus journalists. Many college-age students are restricted from going out of their homes, as per government quarantine protocols that 21-year olds should not go out, usually the age of students in the upper level, seniors or graduates.
Since the suspension of class on March 9, reverting to online class, suspending online class and then resuming it despite students’ protests, many senior campus journalists who led their editorial staff have graduated and left a thinner and less experienced editorial staff behind.
Even before the pandemic, campus publications have also faced limited budget and circulation and the challenge to also maximize online publishing, but the pandemic came before many were able to shift to online
Despite this, during the time of the lockdown, CEGP NCR has been able to aid in the revival of at least two campus publications and re-activation of two more, all in state college and universities in Metro Manila.
“This was done through continuing efforts before the lockdown and a few the online trainings, however limited the effectivity and also continuing education campaigns on press freedom, libel and other media issues that have come to fore during the lockdown. And also some campus publications and journalists were revitalized with the issues of oppression in the country, the shutdown of ABS-CBN, the railroading of anti-terror law,” the group shared.
