Campus journos told: “Never assume, don’t lie”

CEBU, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has advised campus journalists to “never assume and don’t lie”.

“Never assume at don’t lie sa inyong trabaho, ‘yun lang ang gusto ko na maalala ninyo,” said the vice president in her opening speech to more than 3,145 delegates of the NSPC 2024 in Carcar City yesterday.

She explained before the campus journalists that assumption and opinion are two different entities that cannot be used together in journalism writing.

“Unang una, kapag opinion ninyo ang sinusulat ninyo never assume anything. ‘Wag ninyong ipaghalo ang assumption at opinyon, magkaibang bagay ‘yun,” the former Education secretary said.

In addition, Duterte also reminded them that they must never print, post, or circulate information that are not based on truth that would destroy someone’s reputation.

“Pangalawa, never print, post, or circulate something that you know is not the truth.

‘Wag ninyong gawin nga sirain ang buhay ng ibang tao, sirain ang imahe ng iba’t ibang organisasyon o ng mga tao na sa alam ninyong hindi totoo,” said VP Duterte.

Duterte wanted that these two reminders should be remembered by the students in pursuing a career in journalism.

Meanwhile, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also welcomed the delegates from the 17 regions in the country. Garcia urged the student journalists to speak for the truth.

“Think of it, as future writers, future broadcasters, as you speak and I hope you will always speak the truth,” said Garcia.

She also hoped that the aspiring journalists will always uphold the principles and tenets of responsible journalism.

“And so in your very young age, may I hope that as you continue further in life where things will not always be black or white and there may be gray in between. It is my fervent prayer that you will always uphold the principles and tenets of responsible journalism,” said Garcia.

Under Republic Act 7079, also known as the Campus Journalism Act of 1991, the NSPC is the highest journalism competition for both private and public elementary and secondary schools in the Philippines.

The NSPC delegates, both elementary and high school, will compete for various contests such as individual, group, school paper, and awarding of outstanding school paper advisers and campus journalists with this year’s theme, “Galing, Talino, at Husay ng mga Batang Makabansa sa Diwas ng MATATAG na Adhika.”

Individual contest includes news writing, feature writing, editorial writing, sports writing, copy reading and headline writing, science and technology writing, photojournalism, editorial cartooning, and column writing.

Group contest includes TV and radio broadcasting, desktop publishing, and online publishing.

Senator Imee Marcos, DepEd 7 Director Salustiano Jimenez, and Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas also graced in yesterday’s opening program.

Duterte, in her speech, said that Cebu is the chosen host for the six national events of DepEd.

“Dinala naming lahat dito sa inyo sa Cebu para naman makita ninyo, ng mga taga Cebu, ang iba’t-ibang activities ng Department of Education at magkaroon ng interes ang mga kabataan sa Cebu sa pagsali sa iba’t-ibang kompetesyon at syempre makatulong sa lokal na ekonomiya ng inyong lugar post-COVID pandemic,” said Duterte

This year, the island of Cebu is hosting Palarong Pambansa, NSPC, National Festival of Talents, National Learning Convergence, Brigada Eskwela, and National Learning Camp all for this month of July. (CEBU NEWS)