Times honors student-journalists in 2019 Campus Press Awards
Credit to Author: Jan Arcilla| Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 16:18:31 +0000
The Augustinian Mirror, the official student publication of the University of San Agustin (USA) in Iloilo, was named the Best Newspaper at the college level during the 3rd Campus Press Awards at the Savoy Hotel Manila in Pasay City.
The Manila Times and The Manila Times College (TMTC) gave out the campus press awards to recognize the outstanding works of student-journalists and to inspire them to continue developing their interests in journalism.
Ang Kalasag, the official student publication of Virgen delas Flores High School, while The Aquanian, the student publication of the University of Santo Thomas-Junior High School (UST-JHS) won the Best Newspaper for Filipino and English in the high school level, respectively.
Meanwhile, Alabel National High School’s “We took the Risk” was the recipient of the BDO prize. The winning student and winning publication both received P15,000.
In his keynote address, Times President and Chief Executive Officer Dante Francis “Klink” Ang 2nd said 14 years ago, the media institution endeavored to be a teaching newspaper.
“Back then, we were driven by self-interest because we wanted to be part of the training of the next generation journalists who needed more hands-on training,” he added.
“So, when we started The Manila Times School of Journalism, [now TMTC], we introduced hands-on experience from day one; so, by the time the students graduate in four years, they [can present respectable portfolio],” Ang said.
At TMTC, students get rigorous training, professional exposure and hands-on experience at the Times’ news desk and news beats. They are treated as professional journalists, given news beat assignments and taught to deliver news articles to possible publication in The Manila Times.
Ang said they started the Campus Press Awards to recognize student-journalists who are important for the growth of country’s democracy.
“One of the reasons we have this event is to discover new talents. In the past Campus Press Awards, the thing that we do is we invite the winners to be contributors of The Manila Times,” he added.
Brave decision
Meanwhile, Arnold Belleza, former Times’ executive editor, tackled in his keynote speech how journalism has changed and evolved.
He lauded student-journalists, saying, “It is a brave decision to choose journalism.” He urged student-journalists to keep on learning from their editors.
“You don’t agree why your story was chopped? Ask. Not satisfied? Ask again. If you really don’t want, perhaps it will be time to go to another outfit that is a better fit for your values and viewpoints,” Belleza said.
He encouraged student-journalists to focus on the basics, with the language and the medium of today a mixture of written, oral and visuals.
“Dwell but don’t agonize for the bigger picture. Be aware of the issues. Give a stand even, but keep your minds open. The lesson of fairness and ethics are learned over time,” he said.
This year, 60 schools participated in the competition, with 675 entries evaluated by The Manila Times editors, deskmen, photographers, layout artists and cartoonists, as well as journalism educators.
In the college level, the other winners were UST’s “Rector: Children belong in schools, not jails” for Best News Story; University of Rizal System’s “Traversing the borders of the marginalized indigenous people: From small steps to a giant leap for equal access to education” for Best Feature Story; and UST’s “Tigers to keep Abando as coach growls at recruiters” for Best Sports Story.
Meanwhile, the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) won Best Photography; USA’s “You’ve been (RED) Tagged!,” Best Editorial; USM’s “Shaming Intelligence: What a shame,” Best Column; USA’s “You’ve been (RED) Tagged!,” Best Editorial Cartoon; USA’s “Tell-alls of a Tell Tale Heartache,” Best Literary Piece; Rizal Technological University’s newspaper The Guardian, Best Layout and Design; UST’s The Varsitarian, Best News Website; and USA’s The Augustinian Mirror, Best Magazine.
For the High School English Category, UST-JHS’ “Unforeseen Threat: Mosquito-borne disease affects UST JHS” won the Best News Story; Ignacio Villamor Senior High School’s “Hotkeys in Social Media Etiquette,” Best Feature Story; Colegio San Jose de Alaminos’ “Slaying The Giants: CSJA smashers triumph over foes at Division Meet,” Best Sports Story; Treston International College, Best Photography; and UST-JHS’ “Homework: An advantage rather than an adversary,” Best Editorial.
Other winners in the High School English Category were Theresian School of Cavite’s “Destroying the Seeds of Destruction” for Best Column; UST for Editorial Cartoon; Colegio San Jose de Alaminos’ “Pixie Dust” for Best Literary Piece; Baguio National High School’s newspaper The Pinetree for Best Layout and Design; Makati Hope Christian School for Best Student News Website; and School of Saint Anthony for Best Student Magazine.
For the High School Filipino Category, Labas Senior High Schools’ “OCPDC: Agricultural lands nasa 15% na lang ng city land area, kabuhayan ng mga local na magsasaka ‘nanganib’ dahil sa urbanisasyon” won the Best News Story; Marcelo del Pilar National High School’s “Punla” won Best Feature Story; Pavia National High School’s “Talas ng Isip: Batang Pavianhon wagi sa 4th Eastern Asia Youth Championship” won Best Sports Story; and Virgen delas Flores High School won Best Photography.
Other winners in the High School Filipino Category were Virgen delas Flores High School’s “Tapang at Pasakit” for Best Editorial; Trece Martires City National High School’s “Unahin ang Nararapat” for Best Column; Ignacio Villamor Senior High School’s “Krisis na Tubig” for Best Editorial Cartoon; Miriam College’s “Hapunan” for Best Literary Piece; and Taguig Science High School’s Sinagtala for Best Layout and Design.
In an interview, The Augustinian Mirror Editor in Chief (EIC) Romari Charlz Diaz said the event helped them, as they met and learned from respectable media practitioners.
“It honors not only our publication, but also our school because we were recognized in a national campus press awards,” he said.
The Aquanian EIC Bienvenido Jesus Castro 3rd, a Grade 10 student, said winning in the 2019 Campus Press Awards was a great way to end their senior year.
“It will give us the opportunity to spread the importance of campus press within the university itself and give awareness to [the] importance of upholding the truth and being able to give the news to the public,” he added.