I was 16 when I first experienced competing in news writing (English) at the College Press Conference and Awards (COPRE) in Punta Villa, Iloilo. I was the news correspondent of the Tolentine Star, then the official student publication of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) gathers all campus journalists from different parts of Western Visayas annually for a week of fellowship and competition. During COPRE, campus publications vie to reap the most trophies from the best magazine or newspaper layout, cover, and, ultimately, magazine and newspaper awards.
I was blessed to have joined and bagged awards in news writing, editorial writing, and copyediting in the next three years of my stay at the university until I finished my degree – a Bachelor of Science major in Mass Communication. I received the IWAG Award for Excellence in Campus Journalism on graduation day. I thought that was the highlight and, at the same time, the end of my involvement in campus journalism.
Just a couple of years after joining ABS-CBN Bacolod as a reporter and anchor of its local flagship program, TV Patrol Bacolod, I was invited by PIA to be among the roster of esteemed veteran resource speakers led by THE Allen Del Carmen, whose experience and expertise in journalism are beyond reproach and my good friend, the late Eric Loretizo who was a former sports commissioner, political public relations expert and former editor of TS when he was taking up Mass Comm a few years ahead of me in UNO-R. That was when it dawned on me that my involvement in campus journalism never ended—the Universe just brought my mission to the next level. My new calling was to teach and train pencil pushers alongside my comrades in pens.
Fast forward to today, I just finished doing a virtual workshop with 471 campus journos from 106 school publications (public and private) in Region 6 during the PIA Journ Talk Series 2024 (College Edition) last Friday. I shared the fundamental principles of writing news for digital television with the young communicators. It was innovative thinking for PIA to utilize Zoom to make the training inclusive. While face-to-face training and workshops are desired, the virtual setup is more cost-efficient as it breaks down geographical barriers. Online training is more convenient and enables schools, especially those with limited budgets, to still join and field all their writers and editors who wish to participate without worrying about expenses.
In her welcome message, Cheryl Amor, regional head of PIA 6, emphasized to the participants how important it is for young people to be change adept and be able to use information they access through the Internet to promote development.
“The percentage of youth in Western Visayas that use the Internet is 90.6% among the 15-24 year-old and 94.3% has access to smartphones. Since 1976, PIA has always believed in the power of the youth. Hence, 48 years after, literal po ha, hindi po after 48 years, the Philippine Information Agency Journ Talk Series lives on”, said Amor.
I can’t wait to be part of the #CampusJourney of our young journalists from various public and private high schools in the region as PJTS enters its second week.
ETHICAL JOURNALISM IN THE DIGITAL AGE
A few days before PJTS 2024, I was at Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) Talisay for a lecture on “Journalism with Integrity: Promoting Ethics in the Digital Age.” I spoke before more or less a hundred student journalists from four CHMSU campuses in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. It was my first time to have done a journalism and media ethics-related lecture for my kindred spirits. The student journalists did not disappoint. They exuded passion for journalism and those who actively participated exuded confidence and enough curiosity to ask questions that aimed to enlighten them and clarify anything that obscures their understanding of freedom of speech, expression, or the Press.
When I started to share the real ethical dilemmas journalists face daily, they were glued to the conversation and never hesitated to speak up and ask questions. These impressed me as these traits are critical for aspiring journalists. A journalist never ceases to ask questions, to ask “why?’. The lecture was part of the day seminar orientation for all members of Technopacer, the official student publication of CHMSU organized by the Office for Student Affairs and Services.
The emphasis of my talk was on upholding Press Freedom but, at the same time, how critical it is for members of the Fourth Estate to engage in ethical journalism — one that respects laws and the constitutional rights of others because such freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution for journalists to be able to perform their duties free from the interference of the State are not absolute. Such that there are laws against libel, copyright infringement, obscenity, pornography, treason, and invasion of privacy, among others. Because the right of one ends where the right of another begins.
From being a passionate campus journalist to a coach for aspiring digital communicators has come full circle.
A young writer’s dream evolved into a mission to nurture the next generation of storytellers. For more than twenty years now, I am guiding young minds to embrace ethical journalism and harness the power of digital communication. This is both humbling and fulfilling for me, and I am grateful to continue being part of their journey.*
