During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1942–1945), media and communication were strictly controlled and heavily censored as part of Japan’s broader propaganda and psychological warfare strategy. The Japanese military government shut down most existing newspapers, radio stations, and film studios, allowing only a few to operate under strict supervision. Publications like The Tribune and Taliba were revived but repurposed to promote pro-Japanese content and suppress anti-Japanese sentiment. Japanese authorities used media to spread propaganda about the supposed liberation of Asia from Western colonial powers, pushing the idea of the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.” Radio broadcasts were also used to disseminate Japanese messages, and listening to Allied broadcasts was prohibited and punishable. Filipino journalists, writers, and artists faced severe restrictions, with many either forced to cooperate or risk imprisonment, torture, or execution. This era saw a significant decline in press freedom, but also sparked underground resistance, with some publications and writers continuing to fight for truth and independence in secret.