Ink under fire: Risks, impacts, and support mechanisms for campus journalists engaged in critical reporting

Background and Purpose: Campus journalists serve as watchdogs in universities, amplifying student voices and promoting transparency. However, critical reporting may expose them to retaliation, censorship, and institutional pressure. This study examines the risks encountered by student journalists at The Mindanao Tech, University of Southern Mindanao, Philippines, as well as the impacts of these risks and the support mechanisms that sustain their resilience. Methodology: Guided by a hybrid Risk–Resilience Framework, the study employed a convergent mixed-methods design. The Mindanao Tech publication has a total organizational membership of 42 student journalists across editorial and production roles; from this population, 30 members who actively engaged in critical reporting participated in structured questionnaires. Instrument reliability was established through Cronbach’s alpha analysis, and content validity was ensured through expert review and pilot testing. In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposively selected subset to explore personal experiences, coping strategies, and perceived support systems. Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated through triangulation to provide comprehensive analysis. Findings: Student journalists reported fear of retaliation, self-censorship, institutional neglect, and role conflict. These pressures affected emotional well-being and academic performance differentially: while psychological stress was moderate to high (overall mean = 3.41), academic impact remained comparatively low (overall mean = 2.07), an unexpected divergence that underscores the mediating role of peer solidarity. Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated resilience through peer solidarity, purposeful commitment to journalism, emotional regulation, and creative or spiritual practices. Emotional and social support emerged as critical protective factors, though gaps in institutional and structural safeguards remain evident. Contribution: The study provides empirical evidence on the risks and coping strategies of campus journalists in a Philippine university context. It underscores the need for strengthened institutional policies, legal protections, and structured support systems to safeguard student press freedom and well-being. The findings contribute to media studies by applying the Risk–Resilience Framework to campus journalism, extending Institutional Betrayal Theory to student media, and informing efforts to promote ethical and protected student media practice in Global South contexts. Keywords: Campus journalism, critical reporting, student journalists, risk-resilience, coping strategies, ethical journalism, Mindanao, Philippines. Cite as: Colita, L. A. V. (2026). Ink under fire: Risks, impacts, and support mechanisms for campus journalists engaged in critical reporting. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(2), 71-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss2pp71-89