UST SHS pub faces restrictions on press freedom cartoon, sparks censorship concerns

A National Press Freedom Day cartoon by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Senior High School’s student publication, La Stampa, was rejected by advisers, drawing criticism over restrictions on campus media.

The illustration, which depicted a student journalist entangled in puppet strings to symbolize outside influence, was intended to highlight challenges to press freedom.

Editor-in-Chief Laurice Escuin told the Varsitarian that the staff attempted to clarify the cartoon’s message and adjust captions, but advisers still disapproved.

“The [material] was raised to our group chat with our publication advisers, and revisions were put to the table: revisions that would eradicate the whole point of the layout being an avenue of awareness,” Escuin said to the Varsitarian staff.

Escuin said the review process lasted nearly three hours, ending with no approval for the original cartoon, reflecting limits on editorial independence.

She added that La Stampa has previously faced restrictions, with even standard news reports sometimes edited or toned down to avoid administrative scrutiny.

“The publication is still striving to assert our independence and fulfill our duty to the student body while navigating censorship,” Escuin reiterated.

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines condemned the advisers’ decision as “a blatant act of censorship” and urged student journalists to defend their editorial freedom.

In February 2024, TomasinoWeb, an online student media of UST was ordered to remove a photo of students entering a 7-Eleven on campus, which sparked criticism over censorship.