The Department of Education (DepEd), through the Bureau of Curriculum Development, conducted its first-ever virtual National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) on August 11-13, 2021 to enrich the learning experience and sustain the social consciousness of learners amidst the pandemic.

Dubbed as the National Conference on Campus Journalism in the 21st Century, the 2021 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) aims to capacitate learners, school paper advisers, and relevant personnel on the importance of responsible journalism and fair and ethical use of social media.

“Campus journalism empowers the community and the country to rise above the pandemic, to share correct and truthful information, to be patient, to be understanding, and to be aware, of vicious attacks, of cruel criticism at this time of finger-pointing,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

With the theme ‘Pahayagang Pangkampus: Kaagapay sa Paghilom at Pagbangon ng Sambayanan,’ the 2021 NSPC featured online training workshops in various journalistic genres such as Editorial and Column Writing, News and Feature Writing, Sports Writing, Photojournalism, Editorial Cartooning, Radio Scriptwriting and Broadcasting, TV Scriptwriting and Broadcasting, Infomercial, and Online Publication.

In alignment with the Special Program in Journalism, new NSPC events such as Documentary Film, Research on Campus Journalism, Mobile Journalism, and Campus Journalism Vlog were also introduced at the virtual conference.

Around 330 learners and school paper advisers per region were invited to interact with reputable veteran journalists and practitioners who served as resource speakers in the various seminars.

Mr. Howie Severino, a multi-awarded veteran journalist, and the NSPC Guest Speaker, noted that journalism is the pursuit of the presentation of truth, and the role of journalists is to enlighten and provide truth in the age of disinformation.

“Ang ating misyon ay to enlighten, magbigay liwanag sa iba’t ibang importanteng issue sa lipunan. Tayong mga journalist, ang ating propesyon ay anak ng age of enlightenment, naniniwala tayo na ang katotohanan ang pinakamataas na virtue, ang pinakatamaas na value,” Severino shared.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio shared that the passion for truth-seeking will equip learners in the future.

“We’re very fortunate that as we all share the passion for truth-seeking, the youngsters will be equipped with 21st century skills of critical thinking, creative thinking, communications skills, and other life skills developed through the journalistic undertaking that we do,” Usec. San Antonio shared.