𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 | PRESS IN PERIL: AI AND THE FIGHT FOR TRUTH 

Cartoon by Renzel F. Luna 

Today, we commemorate World Press Freedom Day, with this year’s theme: Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media. As AI rapidly reshapes how information is produced and consumed, people face a new kind of threat, which is subtle, smart, and dangerously manipulative.

Manipulation using AI reveals the current dilemma in the society: AI technology has the power to deceive as much as it does to inform. In a country where freedom of the press is both cherished and challenged, the implications are profound.

We assert that while AI is a powerful tool, it must be regulated and critically engaged with. If left unchecked, AI can become a weapon that erodes truth, silences dissent, and manipulates public opinion, threatening the very essence of press freedom.

Primarily, AI enables the rise of disinformation, distorting public perception. In the Philippines, one clear instance is how AI-driven bots and fake content have been used to manipulate election narratives, spread propaganda, and smear legitimate journalists. This has led to confusion, polarization, and declining trust in media.

Furthermore, the integrity of journalism is in jeopardy.  Concerns are emerging that even respectable news organizations can unintentionally publish inaccurate or biased material as AI-generated articles and synthetic content become more prevalent.  Without human supervision, viewers and readers are susceptible to carefully constructed fakes.  

AI monitoring also runs the risk of stifling free speech. Issues about possible censorship and targeting of dissenters have been raised by the use of AI for surveillance and information monitoring, endangering journalists and media professionals in positions of authority.

Nevertheless, AI improves efficiency and expands access to information. True, but at what cost? Convenience should never come before conscience. Automated efficiency must not override the ethical and democratic responsibility of journalism.

At last, we must work together to create strong policies on the ethical use of AI. There must be transparency in how AI tools are used, accountability for disinformation, and digital literacy campaigns to empower the public against manipulation. Particularly, as student journalists, we also have a key role to play. We must use AI responsibly, verify information, uphold ethical standards, and raise awareness about AI's risks and benefits in our school and communities. 

AI is here to stay, but so is our duty to the truth. In this brave new world, we must remain braver. 𝙇𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙮𝙤𝙣. 𝙄𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙮𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙜. 𝙄𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙣.

𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗡 | AY, A.I?: WHY THE REAL ECHO MATTERS 

by Joshua Dela Torre

I remember the first time my story was published in our school paper. My hands were shaking as I flipped through the pages. There it was—my name under the headline, my words out in the world. It was not perfect, but it was mine. I had asked hard questions, stayed up late writing, and rewrote the same paragraph five times, and in the end, it mattered.

Now, that same kind of story can be written in seconds by a bot. Suddenly, I’m left wondering: If A.I. can do the writing, do student voices still matter?

Artificial intelligence is now part of our ever-shifting world. It writes essays, answers emails, and yes, even writes news articles. In some student publications, AI is already being used to write short reports, fix grammar, and make content “better.”

But “better” doesn’t always mean braver, and that’s where the danger begins.

Real journalism, is not about perfect sentences. It is about echoing the truth. It about sitting down with someone who’s scared to speak up and promising, “I will tell your story right.” AI doesn’t feel that. AI doesn’t care. But student journalists do.

Some people say A.I. is “just a tool,” that it helps make our jobs easier, and yes, tools can be helpful. Spellcheck helps. But what happens when we stop writing our own thoughts and just let AI do it all? We stop thinking. We stop feeling. We stop owning our stories. If A.I. writes our articles, who are we as campus journalists? We’re not here to copy and paste. We’re here to question, to investigate, to speak up when others stay silent. We write the stories others are afraid to write, and that can’t be done by a bot. It takes heart, it takes an echoing bravery.

In every newsroom, there will be nights when we’re tired, stressed, and tempted to let A.I. “just write it.” But remember this: a machine can write your report, but it can’t care if you have a "singko" grade. It can’t feel the fear in a student's voice after being silenced. It can’t choose truth over safety. It can’t be brave. 

Real echo—the one that shakes walls and sparks change—doesn’t come from a chatbot, it comes from students who relentlessly refuse to be quiet. We are not just writing for today, we are learning to fight for truth because lies will prevail if there are no journalists—good journalists.