Campus Journalists as Change Agents

Before we tackle some points battled by student journalists this morning, let me raise a question to you writers: “Why do you write?” It’s an elementary question isn’t it? But this question may have different answers from you mainly for the reason- not everybody is writing for the campus paper. Some of you are just here because of the fact that you are readers and as part of the writer-reader relationship, we are here to convey understanding on some issues faced by campus journalists today.

Filipino journalists, like Filipino politicians and policemen, draw the wildest mix of sentiments among the citizens. There are those who hold journalists with great owe and reverence, and others who view journalists with great contempt and derision.

We must open or minds to the struggles of campus press freedom. Though thousands of students in the country still suffers from violations of this democratic right, the Campus Press, being the voice of the students, must find way to battle censorship, intimidating and punishing Editors and writers, holding back the funds for publication or shutting down the publication, to have a publication, council and organizations.

But we can not have a direction to achieve our goals for Campus Press Freedom, if student journalists do not even have organizational objectives. We are faced by the tragedy that “Student writers, just write without a Purpose”.

Know your Purpose

The Campus paper is a breeding ground for student leaders and advocates for better conditions in the educational system and in the entire society. These are the reasons why student writers should uphold a high standard for writing meaningful and quality articles for publication. It is not mainly to “Express Oneself” as journalism is defined in high school nor attack the student council for allegedly being Puppets of the School Administrators-but to promote awareness and involvement of students in all aspects affecting them in the educational community.

How can student writers be catalysts of change?

1. Know the Culture of the students

Students from this institution display distinct norms as manifested in their language, habits, or student life when compared to other institutions in the city. Of course, there’s that certain brand you have for DMMMSU, iba naman ang tatak ng UCC, AMA, at iba pa. Sinasabi nila ang UP may Fernando Poe, Sr, yung oblation, ang UST may ST. Thomas, ang Ateneo may Santo din, isali mo na ang iba pang Catholic Schools, pero ang AMA daw sino ang kanilang modelo? Siyempre, meron din, si Jolina…What I’m saying, we do not need to write according to the standards of the big schools using the coño language of la Salle or the trying-hard pa-effect of the emerging tag-lish na madalas gamitin ng mga showbiz chikadoras kung hindi rin naman kakagatin ng mga readers natin. It’s a fact, Ilocanos are hard to please and always on the go, like the old brand “Kuripot”, the articles should be substantial and informative equipped with a language that does not require them to scan pages of Webster and Oxford. Write something that could make student lives productive. To achieve this, make a simple survey on their interests or expand your knowledge and apply the principles of development journalism and investigative journalism. Write about issues that primarily affects students, add spice not only plain news on school events, hot issues confronting middle-adult readers, tuition fee increases, problems faced by teachers and even non-academic personnel to name a few. In this way, you could revolutionize to facilitate an interesting content of the paper.

2. Develop a plans to improve on the aspect of

- Writing Styles

There are few who could write effectively in both English and Filipino. Some writers prefer to write in English, coming up with more mess after arriving in a final draft, only to find out that it is not better or otherwise far worse than the other write-ups. Use the language you can utilize at ease and easily understood by your readers. Editors are faced with this example because they often have this reporter who has a long track of wrong grammars, misspellings and getting around the bush beats. Are there too much or too little information? All you have to do is to write all the facts of the story and organize them according to importance, date, etc. Write simple and appropriate words. Be a reader as well- reading is the key to writer’s block. In this case, you will be able to absorb the energy of how other writers let their ideas flow. Experiment by using variety of styles. Hence creative writing will be improved as well as critical thinking develops. The IBC format or the Introduction, Body and Conclusion is not new in writing. However, this is a trend in English Examinations today.

- Publication and Layout

Have you seen students crumpling your newspapers in front, tearing the pages samantalang kaka-release niyo lang, kabibigay mo.E nataon na sinulat mo yung pinunit? You’re first reaction, siyempre dahil normal ka naman eh magagalit ka but it should not just move you, you should figure out bakit? Was the article poorly written? Or most of the time, hindi maganda ang layout at presentation eh hindi Makita yung picture? Even if the school publication has the best writers in the city, if the presentation particularly the type-set is not clear, it has also a big-bang on the readers. Layout artists are there not just to arrange, place graphics or do the typeset but a certain standard must also be followed. Hindi dapat pinagtatabi ang mga hindi dapat sa layouting sheet. Editors as well and advisers must find ways to improve publication and layout presentation. Computer Application programs are now trends in publication. There are loads of free wares and these do not require long-term training since computer application programs could be self-studied. The only problem is the equipment and the financial resource. Expand your readers using the Information Superhighway or Internet, with it, you could convey information to other students to provide a gateway for communication to other students and writers here and abroad.

3. Editorial and Staff Development

Skills training in seminars, symposiums, small group, chat/ e-mail could be acquired through a variety of sponsors. These opportunities should be part of the publications action plan for the year. Of course, these opportunities should not be exclusively for those in the higher positions of the publications organizational chart. There should be a criteria whom to send in this affairs. Since, a publication is faced by problems concerned on the availability of funds; it must allow a shared decision-making by editors and staff.

Decision-making is a critical and productive activity within the publication, issues facing conflicts of interests could be discussed in this matter. It can not be denied that some students are part of the publication and other organizations in the campus. However, priorities should be set and discussed in order to have balance for both. There might be instances that confidential information is fed. Hence creates problems confronting this issue. With this, the publication should strengthen its policies and guidelines to avoid this conflict.

4. Affiliate in Organizations that Promotes the Interest of Campus Press

There are but few Organizations on the interest of Promoting Campus Press with a variety of Ideals. The Publication officers must study and seek more information about these organizations because some are just using Campus Press for the interests of politicians and certain groups which do not contribute to the real essence of true democracy and upholding student rights.

5. Know the issues facing Campus Journalism and its development

- Campus Journalism Act or RA 7079

- Academic Freedom and Commercialization of Education

- Cases in the Suppression of Campus Press Freedom

- Ethics in Campus Journalism

Campus journalists, students must continue to serve the best interests of the students and the people. Let us defend and assert the rights to free speech, free expression and free press.

portions of speech by
Karen Michelle P. Calacal, RN
former LH, EIC
during the 2nd Journalism Seminar-Workshop
College of Technology
held at Apilado Hall
DMMMSU-MLUC, San Fernando City
August 18, 2004
published with permission.