In-young "Angela" Hwang & Maria Daniella Drapete · FEATURES · 3 min read · July 25, 2025

“We don’t just tell stories. We challenge [them] and move [them] forward,” says Ms. Raneza Beatrice Pinlac, GMA correspondent and Colegio San Agustin-Makati alumna, in an exclusive interview with Insights for this year’s Campus Press Freedom commemoration. 

Ms. Pinlac has built a distinguished career in journalism, having served as a multimedia reporter for Inquirer, a CNN correspondent, and now, a part of the GMA news team. Her work has spanned both local and international fields, with significant coverage of the Philippine Senate and foreign affairs, highlighting journalism’s role in shaping public understanding.

Declared through Republic Act No. 11440, July 25 marks National Campus Press Freedom Day—a tribute to the vital role of student publications in defending free expression. The date commemorates the founding of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and the legacy of press freedom icons such as Jose “Joe” Burgos Jr., who founded the publication Ang Pahayagang Malaya during the Marcos Regime, amplifying the importance of press freedom during a time of oppression. This national observance serves as a reminder that campus journalism is not only a platform for student expression but also a cornerstone of democracy.

Journalism as Service

Ms. Pinlac traces her journey back to her Augustinian roots, where she first learned to live by the principle of being “a man for all men”—a value that continues to guide her in telling stories that serve, not just inform. 

“Being a man for all men allows me to tell stories for a greater purpose of serving others. It allows me to seek people’s stories through a lens that listens without judgment,” she shares. From spotlighting the burdened, unrecognized labor of mothers during the pandemic in one of her school projects to holding public officials accountable through recent flood coverage, she embodies what it means to wield media as a tool for service and social change.

The Campus Press as Public Watchdog

Contrary to the common view of student publications as internal newsletters, Ms. Pinlac sees them as the people’s press within academic communities across the nation. In her eyes, student journalists act as first responders to grassroots truth-telling. They surface hidden stories long before national media takes notice, question authorities, and pursue narratives that later shape public discourse.

“Campus journalism is not just about drafting history,” she emphasizes. “It’s about taking part in it.”  Citing investigations she has come across, such as the exposés on the UP Pep Squad that revealed systemic patterns of abuse, she reminds us that even the youngest voices can lead the loudest calls for justice.

Navigating New Media Without Losing Purpose

With the rise of algorithm-driven content and digital disinformation, student journalists now face pressure to prioritize virality over integrity. Ms. Pinlac’s reminder is that, while reach still matters, it should not be at the cost of truth: “It’s pointless to write excellent stories if no one’s there to receive them,” she says, while also rejecting the idea that speed should ever trump accuracy.

In Defense of Young Truth-Tellers

Though often underfunded and overlooked, Ms. Pinlac affirms the indispensable role of journalism. “Your work matters,” she says. “When someone shares their story with you, they’re trusting you with their hope for change.” Journalists are warriors for truth, she remarks. Journalism is not just a service; it is a profession worthy of protection and support. 

Her words echo as a call for greater transparency, accountability, and an independent press—principles that begin in the newsroom, including those in schools. In an era of growing disinformation, students are not just learners; they are frontliners in a national struggle to protect truth and transform the systems that shape it.

To all campus journalists, your stories go beyond the classroom. In this quest for truth, you help build a freer press and a more informed nation. Keep writing. The country needs your voice—and it must never be silenced.