Raising Future Journalist

Violeta N. Bacsa

Competition on campus journalism is one of the exciting event awaited by students every year. Aspiring students journalist eagerly attend seminars, workshops and trainings prepared by schools faculty-in-charge in their chosen field of categories they prefer and hoping to gain recognition after the contest.

Campus journalism is mandated by the law under Republic Act 7079 otherwise known as Campus Journalism Act of 1991 (CJA) which was approved by the late former President Corazon C. Aquino on July 05, 1991. Its aim is to uphold the freedom of the press at the campus level. To promote the growth of campus journalism, hearten critical and creative thinking and to develop good character and discipline among the Filipino youth.

Journalism as a profession plays an important role in any country, journalists are called “watchdog of the society” for their mission is to oversee the works of the government officials in behalf of their countrymen, to ensure transparency and bring justice to any decisions where peoples welfare are at stake.

Campus journalism awakened the minds of the student’s writers on the latest news in and out of the country, as part of their trainings they are required to watch news on T.V., listened to news on radio and read news on newspapers as well as, on online news. Then write their own version of the news. A great help for learners to strengthen and develop their reading and writing skills.

Youngsters of today are termed as digital natives for they were born during the age of technology wherein familiarity with modern gadgets is common to them. A common scenario at school is; during break time, students normally sits quietly holding their cell phones texting, chatting or surfing the net. As such, they are alienated with long reading materials.

With the advent of modern technology and the various application on smart phones, which triggers students to use their gadgets and be busy with it. Campus journalism is a breakthrough for students to divert their attention on much important task, and that enable them to cultivate their hidden talent on writing into different categories they liked best.

During the trainings of students writers with their teachers coach, it is fun to see how immersed these students are and how they are motivated to write and aimed to represent their schools to win the highest place they could for their schools and for themselves.

Yet above all these, fun, excitements and learnings brought about by campus journalism, these aspirants journalist must be guided into the right direction of media writing. Writing the truth and nothing but the truth. News should be factual at all times.

Fake news proliferates everywhere, social media dominates the world of many, and these digital media hopefuls can play a vital role to neutralize fraudulent news.

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The author is Teacher III from Rodolfo V. Feliciano Memorial High School,

San Pedro II, Magalang, Pampanga