OSSEI Nat’l Training Workshop on Campus Journalism promises brighter future for campus scribes
by Steven Mark Parado
Reaffirming the importance of nurturing young talent and empowering future journalists with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the dynamic world of journalism was a promising start for the return of the Organization of Student Services Educators Inc. (OSSEI) National Training Workshop on Campus Journalism, Thursday, September 28 at Baguio Crown Legacy Hotel Baguio City.
After more than three years of its being halted due to the pandemic, the event drew a diverse group of campus journalists coming from various colleges and universities across the country all eager to sharpen their journalism skills and explore the world of ethical campus reporting especially in the advent of artificial intelligence.
The opening ceremonies started at 2:30 pm with the opening prayer led by Dr. Ligaya S. de Guzman, OSSEI Auditor and was then followed by the presentation of the 37 participating schools by Dr. Benedicta O. Lascano, OSSEI PRO.
The highlight of the first day was the guest speakers session featuring Ed Lingao, TV 5 chief correspondent, Prof. Liana Barro, lecturer and campus publication adviser from Far Eastern University, and Prof. Ben Domingo Jr., CHED Technical Committee for Journalism who shared their experiences and insights from their successful career.
Mr. Ed Lingao in his discussion put a strong emphasis on ethical issues in journalism in the advent of artificial intelligence and encouraged the attendees to be responsible in their reporting and do fact-checking.”AI has a role in journalism, but we also need to be prudent where it can be used”, Lingao mentioned.
In addition, Lingao stressed out that journalism schools also need to have clear guidelines on the limits of AI.
“Finally, campus journalists must read more than what you write. Listen more than you speak. Cry more often than you would like to admit”, Lingao ended his talk.
Meanwhile, Prof. Liana Barro challenged campus journalists in learning to navigate the changing landscape in campus paper.”Putting a paper is a real challenge especially in the digital age. Writers nowadays must be good with words and adept in technology”, Barro said.
In addition, Barro affirmed that campus journalism is here to stay albeit any platforms and convergence is the key to a publication’s staying power.
Completing the Day 1 of the training workshop was the insightful discussion of Prof. Ben Domingo Jr. who emphasized the importance of ethical journalism in this technologically-advanced generation.
“Journalism should be everybody’s concern; its practice must not be limited to those who are learned, articulate, moneyed and technologically advanced/adequate”, Domingo added.
Ending his thought, he stressed the importance of concise, relatable, and accessible journalism that resonates with experiences and emotions of the public.”I would prefer to read a one-page black-and-white news leaflet that reflects the situation, experiences, and sentiments of the small people…”
With the success of the first day, OSSEI continues to be a beacon of journalism education and is poised to make a positive impact on the future of campus paper organization and management.