by: Junee Rose D. Delgado
Master Teacher I, Santo Tomas Elementary School
Calauan Sub-Office, SDO Laguna
Press freedom in the Philippines is equivalent to every Filipino’s right to express themselves. Republic Act 7079, also referred to as the Campus Journalism Act of 1991, was born out of this. Campus journalism is referred to as “that enjoyable activity of the staff of the campus paper in collecting, organizing, and presenting news; writing editorials, columns, features, and literary articles; taking pictures; cartooning; copy-reading, proofreading, dummying, and writing headlines” .
Students interested in a career in journalism might train in campus journalism. The campus or school newspaper is essential because it develops students’ interpersonal skills and exposes aspiring journalists to what goes on in the newsroom. In people’s lives and in communities, journalism is essential. Notably, one of the settings where journalism needs to be fostered and studied is in schools. The elements that could help student journalists succeed at a high level in various journalistic writing competitions will be emphasized while taking part in these activities.
However, concerns were voiced regarding the aforementioned law’s execution, one of which is the financing of school newspaper publications. One of the provisions hinted that the appropriations for student publications are optional by using the word “may.” Furthermore, the Department of Education’s voluntary program and no collection policy directly impact the publication of the campus newspaper. (Sections 2001 of D.O. 51 and 2008 of D.O. 19).
Some aspiring campus journalists find it difficult to handle their school works as well as their tasks being part of the school paper. They cannot balance their time and therefore sometimes cannot deliver the needed articles for the school paper. Also, the lack of essential trainings that they need in order to win in various levels of schools press conferences adds to their burden. Teachers or School Paper Advisers also have their fair share of challenges as well. First, some of them also lack the needed training to effectively handle the school paper, mostly because it is not unusual that the assigned SPA is a newly hired teacher, or at least one of the most recent ones. Aside from that, the accumulation of the funds needed for the school paper is being hindered by the department’s “No Collection Policy”. Although considered to be part of the school’s official collection, some schools are still reluctant to ask for fees regarding the school paper and are therefore sometimes find it difficult to source out funds.
Teachers and aspiring campus journalists alike are hoping that in the near future, they would receive the support that they both need in order for them to make headway in the field of journalism.
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