School paper advisers want more than competition
They consider competitions as motivation but they also want to be more relevant by contributing to community development.
School Publications Advisers, who participated in the Journalistic Writing and Paper Management Seminar facilitated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), said in a forum that while student writers are more inclined to write to compete with others in regional and national press conferences, there is also that nagging desire to make their papers responsive to community issues.
Ms. Bonna Palma, paper adviser of the Forum Dimension of the West Visayas State University-Main campus, said responsible journalism begins in the training of campus writers to become keenly aware of how the campus press can benefit even just its immediate environment.
Ms. Cristina Juarez of Negros State College of Agriculture said that while school paper advisers tend to harness writing skills of their publication staffers to win in writing competitions, they are also aware of the need to develop in them positive attitudes and values that make the campus press a tool for development.
Mr. Celestino Dalumpines of Antique National School said advisers need the support and inspiration from other mentors to be able to face up to the challenge of effective school paper management.
On the other hand, PIA Director Atty. Janet Mesa said campus journalism is a venue where marketing of useful information that can benefit the community can be channeled.
She said, however, that the content and news value preferences of campus papers still depend on the editorial policy of the publication.
The advisers were also oriented on the current trends and changes in campus journalism, by Ms. Grace Agoncillo, Staff Director of the PIA Central Office Human Resource Division.
Ms. Agoncillo said campus paper advisers are also networks of communicators in their respective communities. (PIA 6/ESS)