The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication issued on 23 July 2009 its assessment of the media under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Signed by Dean Roland B. Tolentino, 24 faculty members, five staff, 11 student organizations and the UP CMC Student Council, the statement describes as "unprecedented" the degree of hostility of the environment in which Philippine media had to operate under Macapagal-Arroyo's regime.

The assessment listed down the leading violations committed under the current administration. Chief among this is the killing of journalists. "More than half of the journalists killed during the post-Marcos period were killed during the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. Only in three cases – the murder of Edgar Damalerio, Marlene Esperat and Armando Pace – have the killers been convicted. However, no mastermind has been prosecuted."

The number of libel cases filed against journalists comes next. "A slew of libel cases, of which those filed by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo are the most obvious evidence of regime hostility to criticism, transparency and press freedom, have been filed against critical journalists."

"Media groups and at least one journalist, Carlos Conde, have been tagged as enemies of the state either by the military’s infamous 'Knowing the Enemy' presentation or its 2007 Order of Battle in Davao," the statement added.

The college also scored Macapagal-Arroyo and her officials for professing "their commitment to press freedom, but their statements have proven to be nothing but lip service."

"The list of cases of media repression since 2001 is endless. The imprisonment of Davao broadcaster Alex Adonis as a result of a libel case filed against him by the Speaker of the House of Representatives shows how government officials can use the law to silence and intimidate those who are critical of the powers-that-be. Broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro was sued for wiretapping by a government official as a result of her work in exposing corruption. Journalists who went to Maguindanao were briefly detained when they covered the conflict there. All are the result of an atmosphere the Arroyo administration has created which encourages media repression."

Censorship in films, in the form of prior restraint, has also been noted. "The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has been criticized for giving an 'X' rating to films that are critical of the administration like 'Ang Mabuhay para sa Masa,' 'Rights,' 'Mendiola' and 'A Day in the Life of Gloria.'

Despite these threats to freedom of expression, the college noted that the media continues to "uphold and protect press freedom and free expression. There now exists a de facto alliance among media organizations and other cause-oriented groups as the former fight the administration’s hostility towards the press. The Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) was established precisely in response to the unabated killings. Various media groups have issued position papers against onerous bills like the right of reply and to campaign for access to information and the decriminalization of libel. The UP Film Institute played a major role in the re-establishment of the Task Force Free the Artists (TFFTA) to fight censorship."

In its statement, the college reaffirmed its commitment "to help media and journalist organizations defend press freedom and resist the Arroyo administration’s attack on the press and working for the enhancement of professional and ethical media practice, is at the same time defending what remains of Philippine democracy."