Be agents of change, MisOr campus journalists told

MANTICAO, Misamis Oriental--Campus journalists can be agents of change by helping put important social issues in the spotlight.

This was the message of Public Schools District Supervisor Roie Ubayubay to more than 2,000 student-journalists during the opening of the three-day Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) here on Wednesday.

The participants, who represent the 23 school districts within the Misamis Oriental division, will compete in 15 different writing and campus journalism events.

"It is our purpose to educate our budding journalists who want to uncover the truth and tell stories that matter," Ubayubay said, reminding the participants to always uphold quality and responsible journalism.

Campus journalism, he said, can be "a very effective means to initiate change because the academe considers these budding journalists as the future and potential partners to nation-building."

Maria Teresa Absin, the Division's Education Program Supervisor, described this year's DSPC as "record-breaking" in terms of the number of participants.

"In 2016, we had more than 1,200 participants only and in 2017, we had 1,100 plus," Absin noted.

Of the province's 23 school districts, Jasaan town has the most number of participants with 370 student journalists, followed by the district of Villanueva.

Absin said special awards will be given at the end of the three-day competition, such as Outstanding School Paper Adviser, Outstanding Campus Journalist, and Best School Paper. (PNA)