Idea(l)s of a State University: The Philippine Collegian and the Struggle for Press Freedom and Academic Freedom in the Context of Neoliberal Education in the University of the Philippines

ABSTRACT

This research paper examines the role of The Philippine Collegian as a student publication and a student institution in the University of the Philippines (UP) and its pursuit for academic freedom and press freedom. The articles published in 2000-2008 were analyzed qualitatively through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) guided by theories on political economy of media and framing as a facet of agenda-setting. Pertinent findings reveal that the direct assault on academic and press freedom is due to capitalist interests entrenched in education. The neoliberal policies systematized the rising cost of education and privatization of student services. The Collegian did not only expose the State and its machinery as the primary news actors who implemented neoliberal policies in UP, but also gave preferential exposure to the progressive block who denounced every attempt to further curtail academic and press freedom. The Collegian, however, was not boxed-up in exposition; it also served as a propagandist in advocating quality and accessible education as its primary way of pursuing academic and press freedom. It encourages the necessity and inevitability of mass movement as the highest form of parliamentary struggle to advocate democratic rights in the era of neoliberal globalization.

Uichanco, M.P. (2010). Idea(l)s of a State University: The Philippine Collegian and the Struggle for Press Freedom and Academic Freedom in the Context of Neoliberal Education in the University of the Philippines, Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication.

Subject Index : Publications--Quezon City--Philippines, Student publications, Press and journalism in literature, Mass media, Neoliberalism, Academic freedom--Philippines