Campus Journalists Say Press Freedom Is Everyone's Battle by Raisa Serafica

2/24/24, 9:56 AM Campus journalists say press freedom is everyone’s battle
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Campus journalists say press freedom is

everyone’s battle
JAN 16, 2018 1:54 PM PHT
RAISA SERAFICA
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For school publications and student journalism groups, this is not Rappler's battle
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https://www.rappler.com/moveph/193748-campus-journalists-press-freedom-democracy/ 1/13

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MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – What does the decision of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) to revoke Rappler’s license to operate mean to campus
journalists, school publications and student organizations?
Various school publications, student journalism groups, and student organizations,

from across the country have expressed their support for Rappler following SEC’s kill
order of the online news organization. (READ Rappler’s statement: Stand with Rappler,
defend press freedom)
Their united stand: We should all help defend press freedom.
According to school publications and student journalism groups, press freedom is a

pillar of democracy. Thus, fighting for press freedom should be everyone’s battle.
(READ: ‘Rappler now, who’s next?’ – netizens)
In its statement published on Monday, January 15, the University of the Philippines
College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) student council said that shutting down
media institutions “is an attack to journalists and all attacks against the press is an
attack against democracy.”
This was the same sentiment shared by several school publications like the Visayas
State University’s Amaranth, St. Scholastica’s College Tacloban’s Sulog/Binhi and
Ateneo de Manila University’s The Guidon. They all said that this was not Rappler’s
battle alone.
“All media organizations – from mainstream media to the student press – must take a
stand against this attack on journalism. Bowing down to intimidation will only
embolden those in power,” The Guidon said.
School publications also criticized the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and
pointed out its consistent effort to silence all groups that are critical of the
government and, at the same time, empower its supporters, regardless if they are
purveyors of fake news. DONATE SUBSCRIBE NOW
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In its statement, The Guidon listed the several cases of intimidation of the media by
the Duterte administration, including the threats to block the renewal of ABS-CBN’s
franchise and criticisms hurled at Philippine Daily Inquirer’s (PDI) supposed “slanted”
reporting.
For UP CMC student council, these tactics show hints of a dictatorship and are
reminiscent of what the Filipino press have experienced under Martial Law.
This is also the reason why they have collectively urged the public to take a stand
against this attack on press freedom.
“We call on everyone: the student press and media practitioners who rally their
constituents in the pursuit of truth; the student leaders who are determined to
represent the voices of their peers; and anyone who has been previously forced to
silence,” The Crusader of the Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro said in it statement.
On Tuesday, January 16, the UP CMC student council urged students to join a protest
against the attack on press freedom at the University of the Philippines Diliman from
10 am to 12 pm.
Below are some of the statements of support released by school publications and
student journalism groups: DONATE SUBSCRIBE NOW
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College Editors Guild of the Philippines

about 6 years ago
The revocation of Rappler’s Certificate of

Incorporation and the continuing attacks of the US-
Duterte regime against media practitioners and
institutions are manifestations of the regime’s
blatant attempt to silence those who contradict his
anti-people policies.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines calls on
the Filipino youth and people to stand for press
freedom and fight the fascist US-Duterte regime!
We invite everyone to join the TWITTER RALLY
tonight from 7:00 ... See more
40 2 52
CampusJourn
about 6 years ago DONATE SUBSCRIBE NOW
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WE STAND BY RAPPLER
The CampusJourn network of Eastern Visayas, composed of college
journalists and press advisers, stands by Rappler in these trying times.
Rappler has been our strong partner through Move.PH, and has helped the
network grow by supporting our conferences and coverages.
On January 11, 2018, the Philippine Securities and Exchanges Commission
(SC) revoked Rappler’s registration for allegedly violating the Constitution
and the Anti-Dummy Law.... See more
51 3 63
Kwentong Journalist
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We, Kwentong Journalist, are standing with Rappler against its revoked
registration by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Rappler has been a great help to the innovation and progress of campus
journalism in the Philippines for years, from giving student writers a chance
to cover national events, to helping the NSPC to reach new heights.
With the recent incident of SEC revoking Rappler's registration, they won't
just be able to operate fully as a legal online media organi... See more
212 15 124
Amaranth
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Amaranth, the official student media organization of Visayas State

University, condemns the decision made by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) to revoke Rappler’s registration without due process.
Rappler supposedly violated the constitutional and foreign equity restrictions
in mass media which states that “ownership and management of mass
media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations,
cooperatives or associations, wholly-owned and manag... See more
191 253 91
The Spectrum - USLS

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Today is a sad and terrifying day for the country's press freedom. Today, the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) did not only revoke one news
organization's license but hurled a blatant attack on democracy. We from
The Spectrum would like to express solidarity with Rappler. We
#SupportRappler, because we support press freedom and stand for
authentic democracy.
Read Rappler's statement here:
https://www.facebook.com/rapplerdot…/posts/1917517974935643…
83 9 66
UP College of Mass Communication Student Council

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"HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF, FIRST AS TRAGEDY, SECOND AS FARCE."

Not so long ago in Philippine history, fascist dictator Ferdinand Marcos
terminated all news institutions and publications, sparing only those owned
and controlled by the government and his cronies. Along with the
massacres, tortures, forced disappearances and political detainment,
Marcos tyrannized the democratic rights of all Filipino masses.
Today, as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ordered the
closu... See more
60 Comment 84
The GUIDON
about 6 years ago
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MOVEPH EDITORIAL: The GUIDON stands with Rappler and condemns all acts of
intimidation and suppression of the free press. http://tgdn.co/2FDDEOV
THEGUIDON.COM
Defend Press Freedom!
THIS AFTERNOON, online news outlet Rappler announced that the Sec…
165 6 106
UST Journalism Society D O N A T E

SUBSCRIBE NOW
about 6 years ago
MOVEPH
MOVEPH THE UST JOURNALISM SOCIETY'S STATEMENT
ON THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION'S (SEC) DECISION ON RAPPLER
The UST Journalism Society strongly condemns the
Duterte administration’s shakedown of media
organizations critical of the government.
Just months after the owners of the Philippine Daily
Inquirer were forced to sell out, the registration
papers of online news organization Rappler were
revoked at the instigation of no less than the
Solicitor General. ... See more
78 1 90
In its order, SEC zeroed in on a clause in the company’s Philippine Depositary Receipts
(PDR) from Omidyar Network, saying that it violated constitutional restrictions on
ownership and control of mass media entities.
Rappler has long debunked this allegation, explaining that the PDR, while a financial
instrument, does not translate to investors’ control in the day-to-day operations of the
company. – Rappler.com
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AUTHOR
Raisa Serafica
@RAISASERAFICA
Raisa Serafica is the Unit Head of Civic Engagement of Rappler. As the head of
MovePH, Raisa leads the on ground engagements of Rappler aimed at building
a strong community of action in the Philippines. Through her current and
previous roles at Rappler, she has worked with different government agencies,
collaborated with non-governmental organizations, and trained individuals
mostly on using digital technologies for social good.
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2/24/24, 9:56 AM Campus journalists say press freedom is everyone’s battle

DONATE SUBSCRIBE NOW

Campus journalists say press freedom is

UPGRADE TO LISTEN POWERED BY SPEECHIFY

Already have Rappler+?

DONATE SUBSCRIBE NOW

Various school publications, student journalism groups, and student organizations,

Their united stand: We should all help defend press freedom.

According to school publications and student journalism groups, press freedom is a

College Editors Guild of the Philippines

The revocation of Rappler’s Certificate of

Amaranth, the official student media organization of Visayas State

The Spectrum - USLS

UP College of Mass Communication Student Council

"HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF, FIRST AS TRAGEDY, SECOND AS FARCE."

UST Journalism Society D O N A T E

How do you feel about this article?

HAPPY AMUSED INSPIRED DON'T CARE

DONATE SUBSCRIBE NOW

MORE FROM RAISA SERAFICA

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