Genuine Duty

For seven years in a row, CALABARZON once again emerged triumphant in the recently
concluded National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Lingayen, Pangasinan—yet another proof
that the spirit of campus journalism is still alive and thriving in the region. While it was truly a
proud moment for winning students and their schools, in the end, it’s important that they know
they aren’t just blinded by the bright shine of medals and trophies. Genuine journalism, after all,
is built on truth and empowering communities, not just for mere competition.

That’s the challenge this coming NSPC 2020 for both aspiring and experienced campus
journalists who’s aiming to win their spot at the nationals this year. Here in Quezon, local schools
have already lined up their fair share of qualifiers for the RSPC, a contest preceding the NSPC which
will determine the national competitors for each category. The anticipation is real, and it’s only
increasing every year as more and more students venture into campus journalism around the
country. This means as the competition gets tighter, so will the stress—and that leads student
journalists away from the true essence of journalism, which is empowering the masses.

Campus journalism plays a huge part in empowering small communities. It brings people
together through their collective stories to share, and brings students even closer to the reality and
struggles faced by their own local communities. Here in Lucena City, home to roughly 500 campus
journalists, you won’t find the best stories of its wonderful people in the city’s heavily politicized
local news channels, nor in the commercialized local radios, rather, you’ll see them best through the
eyes of an innocent student journalist whose mere passion is to tell the truth through campus
journalism.

That’s how powerful campus journalism is for such a community like Lucena. You won’t hear
about the stories of people like Lolo Egoy, for example, a 78 year-old shoemaker who walks barefoot
around the city, in the local news channels unless they get good ratings, or profit from his life story.
Instead, Lolo Egoy’s inspiring story of hardwork and diligence is known throughout the city because
of student journalists who believed his story was worth telling—even without expecting anything in
return.

This is how journalism empowers the masses—students tell their truths, tirelessly and bravely,
and then they expect nothing but joy and sympathy in return. Campus journalists like them are
unique in the field because they’re supposed to be genuine in their work. However, with the
continued success of competitive programs like DepEd’s Schools Press Conferences, it is but
unavoidable for student journalists today to focus more on winning the contests rather than writing
for passion.

So it’s just right that this year’s NSPC focused on keeping the spirit of campus journalism right
where it needs to be. Students should be reminded that they began their “#JOURNeys” with the goal
of empowering their schools and local community and not because they were in it for the awards
alone. Journalism is not for show, and you definitely won’t survive it unless you build enough
passion.
 If it were not for the free press and for the journalists who strived to use the truth against the
people in power more than 30 years ago, this nation would’ve stayed in the darkness. Today, it’s
2019, and now more than ever do we need the same level of empowerment not just for the nation, but
this time, especially to our small communities and minorities. But we can’t do that unless campus
journalists do their part—they must genuinely do their duty and rally behind the masses by giving
them a voice, even if it’s hard or even if they get nothing in the end.

Vinzen Josh L. Borja

Editorial English