By Julliane Nicole Labinghisa

Highlighting the vital role of human rights and the nuances in campus journalism, the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) held ‘Rights in Focus: Human Rights in Campus Journalism Summit 2025,’ in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, at the Ateneo Professional Schools in Makati City last December 6.

Internationally acclaimed journalist and Far Eastern University (FEU) alumna Jamela Alindogan emphasized the importance of safety and maintaining individuality in journalism during her keynote speech. 

“Celebrate your individuality as journalists. Laging tandaan, journalism is not about being celebrated. It’s about bearing witness even if the world tells you to look away; it’s about protecting truth, even if silence is rewarded," she stated. 

Moreover, Alindogan also urged campus journalists to learn from the mistakes of existing journalists in order to pave a better path. 

In her speech, she reminded the participants the importance of human rights reportage and to focus on the stories of individuals while practicing integrity. 

“Be the kind of journalist who honors the truth even when it’s convenient, especially when it’s inconvenient… This is what must come first. To defend and uphold the dignity of the poor and the stories we must tell to serve the people,” Alindogan shared. 

Meanwhile, TV Patrol Weekend anchor Adrian Ayalin, National Union of Journalists Chairperson Jonathan de Santos, Philippine Collegian Editor-In-Chief (EIC) Reg Dipasupil, The Varsitarian EIC Chalssea Echegoyen, and ABS-CBN senior reporter Raphael Bosano discussed the state of campus journalism in the Philippines during the first panel discussion. 

Key points highlighted in the discussion are the censorship and attacks faced by campus publications, usage of artificial intelligence in journalism, distinction between influencers and journalists, and the amendment of the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. 

From 2023 to 2024, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines recorded 206 campus press freedom violations, with various student publications, including FEU Advocate, signing a statement to call for an end to campus press repression. 

Moreover, the second panel discussion tackled reporting through the lens of human rights, which was led by renowned Rappler journalist Lian Buan, award-winning photojournalist Raffy Lerma, and AHRC Executive Director Atty. Nicolene Arcaina, and moderated by Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo. 

It also focused on safety during coverage, the role of the media in human rights, as well as the panel's experiences as journalists covering human rights issues during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s War on Drugs. 

“It’s important you have human rights reporting to make sure that official quote unquote narrative can be challenged… When you do human rights reporting, you question power, and you bring to light not the state’s official [and] legitimate narrative or rhetoric pero ‘yung truth of the victims’ life,” Atty. Arcaina stated. 

Additionally, breakout workshops on Ethical and Rights-Sensitive Reporting by FEU Professor Liana Barro, Safety and Digital Security For Campus Journalists by Rappler Civic Engagement Head Samantha Bagayas, and Fact Checking and Combating Disinformation by Rappler Writer and Researcher Ailla Dela Cruz were held simultaneously during the summit.

Moreover, AHRC conducted the official turnover of the Human Rights Primer as part of the Project HR Lens in partnership with FEU Advocate, The Varsitarian, The GUIDON, The LaSallian, Philippine Collegian, Tinig ng Plaridel, The Benildean, and The Bedan.

The AHRC is an institution focused on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines. 

(Photo courtesy of Ateneo Human Rights Center)