From what I have observed when I was still with the academe, the campus paper provides student journalists the opportunity to practice their craft at the same time the chance to share their thoughts and insights about certain issues.
For those who are not familiar with the Campus Journalism Act of 1999, this is An Act Providing for the Development and Promotion of Campus Journalism and for Other Purposes. It was created for several reasons, the most important are:
– To uphold the freedom of the press at the campus level;
– To promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking, and developing moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino youth.
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The act was also meant to assist students improve technical skills in journalism, understand and practice the responsibilities of a journalist, learn how to be responsible, and promote social awareness. It is also a good venue for advocating educational development, as well as for voicing out students’ rights and promoting their welfare.
Despite the fact that this has long been put into law, there are still some educational institutions that do not follow it. There are several schools — quite a number of them, actually — that do not have school publications or school papers.
While they may have their own reasons, these institutions should remember that their priority is the welfare and education of the students. Therefore, anything that can help advance students’ learning should be a major part of the school curriculum.
For those who do not yet understand the value of a campus paper, here are some important reasons why it should be implemented in any school or educational institution:
A campus paper helps students become more aware of what’s happening around them. They learn how to become receptive and proactive citizens at a young age. Additionally, it helps and trains students to become responsible. Student journalists are taught and trained to practice fairness, balance, and truthfulness;
The campus paper likewise provides students a voice on issues that affect them and even on issues that do not directly affect them but those they love. Student journalists can act as the messengers of the student body. They can talk about issues, policies, advocacies, and events that are essential to both the student and the school administration;
It serves as a venue for students so their message can reach the proper school authorities and a way of bringing together, and uniting the students, the faculty, and the administration;
It helps students practice their freedom of expression;
A campus paper also helps students improve their skills in communication arts as these student journalists are each given regular tasks — editing, writing, proofreading, and headline writing, among others;
Being in a campus paper can train student journalists about management; something that they can put to good use after they graduate.
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More than anything else, the campus paper can train students and young journalists the skill of delegation and the value of teamwork. It actually trains them to become well-rounded individuals and members of society.
Those students who belong to schools that do not yet have their own campus papers, should start working on organizing a campus journalism program. The benefits are aplenty – for both the students and the academic institution.
In fact, it is a very important aspect and foundation for nation building.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
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