CONVERGENCE 2005

The 2nd National Campus Journalism Congress

Theme: “Reach Each One in Bringing Developmental Journalism on Page One”

By Lloyd A. Luna
Network of Campus Journalists of the Philippines

Rationale

Year 2004 has been another year of division for the Filipino nation—GMA versus FPJ, the pullout of
Filipino troops in Iraq, the solution to fiscal crisis among others. Sad enough, division meant a
further hurdle that brings the Filipino people to confusion rather than united eye of the solutions;
misconception rather than appreciation; apathy rather than sympathy; skepticism rather than trust
and confidence and; vulnerability and desperation rather than hope.

On the other end, media that is often referred to as the fourth state has always been part of these
struggles. As the supposed mirror of the society’s concerns and interest, their credibility didn’t
escape, too, from scrutiny of the people. They must have something to do and some more to say.

And for young people, confusion meant hopelessness. Knowing not who is saying what, they feel
being left behind, neglected and set aside. The largest untapped resource of any nation, according
to the studies of Untied Nations, inability of the State to fully recognize their potentials makes the
sector feel worthless. They really can’t do much. They don’t care about the country’s leadership
and they see no hope at all.

The same is true with young people and truer with campus journalists. They are the most precious
underutilized, if not unutilized wealth of institutions of higher learning that is repeatedly judged as
problems rather than solution to the problems.

These and many other predicaments including weak support of the State, misunderstanding with
school administration, insufficient grassroots journalism trainings, lack of leadership courses,
absence of network and proactive organizations and inability to recognize their skills, talents and
potentials as future media practitioners in the country make campus journalists chase different
directions with far various values and ethical standards.

And after the success of SOAR 2004, the 1st NCJP National Leadership and Team Building
Congress held at the Manila TIMES School of Journalism in February, CONVERGENCE 2005
was born.

Background

As another year marks its offing, challenges as well as opportunities for campus journalists are
foreseen. Campus journalists are capable to deliver positive results and impact the society, then a
matter of argument but now a resounding statement that needs to reaffirm.
Thus, Network of Campus Journalists of the Philippines (NCJP) and the UGNAYAN Publication of
Adamson University partnered to “converge the future media practitioners of the country”.

Goals and Objectives

Convergence 2005 is the 2nd National Campus Journalism Congress aimed at gathering at least
200 campus journalists around the country and providing them an interactive venue to:

 Review the history of campus journalism in the Philippines

 Identify its present situation and rediscover their values and attitudes as leaders
 Redefine its vital role in nation building and commitment to ethical standard
 Revive the spirit of volunteerism and service above self and
 Espouse the proliferation of developmental journalism

Specifically, the congress aims to:

 Provide student-journalists a venue to share their sentiments and views on issues

affecting their performances
 Build camaraderie and establish strong network among themselves
 Understand diverse culture of student publications
 Craft Manila Declaration on Sustainable Development of Campus Journalism and
Commitment to Ethical Standard
 Come up with a resolution requesting the President of the Republic of the
Philippines to declare Campus Journalism Month
 Create strategic local action plans, programs and projects
 Promote the essential role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
in providing equal opportunities for young journalists

Theme of the Conference:

“Reach each one in bringing developmental journalism on page one”

It takes a team. An in the light of a growing awareness campaign for the promotion of proactive and
developmental campus journalism, many are still left unsaid and undone. Many are reaching and
reached but many more are needed to reach many others.

Talking about campus journalism has definitely become more and more significant issue—though
oftentimes neglected. This has happened neither by intention nor by coincidence but clearly
indicates that the issues being raised by student journalists require an increased response by the
different sectors. Yet, it is apparent that many people - and the younger generation of campus
journalists in particular - are no longer satisfied with their possibilities of participation in discussing
issues through the official channels. They more and more prefer to do things in their own way
having weak support from the State, school administration and other groups. As a result, these
endeavours have acquired a public recognition and political influence like never before.

On the end of majority of its publishers, the students don’t agree. Presenting on the front pages the
same old, depressing write-ups for them triggers the hopelessness and frustration among students.
Instead of students reading the headlines and become proud of their student newspaper, they
prefer not.

The opinions regarding the role and significance of Campus Journalism in contrast to official state
and learning institutions vary not only from school to school but also amongst different interest
groups and individuals. The reality of radical activism in school publications, for example is simply
too diverse and it ranges from political functions like the control of power or interest mediation to
pure functions of social integration through service provision and socialisation. These must be
solved individually and be treated proactively.

It is hard to do things alone. And nobody can get a thing done alone. Specifically, bringing back the
good news in front is a great challenge.

The 2005 conference tries to approach the diverse nature and different concepts of Campus
Journalism from both the benevolent and the critical point of view and encourage the participants to
reach each one and bring the good news in front of the papers. By gathering campus journalists
representing different school publications, different issues are expected to be cleared. By
discussing the strengths and weaknesses of Student Publications in close relation to the current
challenges occasioned by different problems, we aim at gaining a more realistic perception and
understanding of the potential and the limits of future journalists in the country.

Format and Structure of the Conference

The conference will be organized using different participative methods such as plenary lectures,
workshops and panel discussions, working groups, keynote speeches, question and answer
sessions, round-tables, confrontation games and consensus building activities.

Participants will mutually examine different issues relating to the nature of the ongoing changes
with a particular emphasis on the implications values and ethical standard in campus journalism.
The different perspectives represented by participants from a variety of cultural, regional and life-
style backgrounds will ensure lively and rich discussions at the conference.

Conference Programme

ACTIVITIES REMARKS
DAY 1

08.00a Registration

Submission of Entries to the

2005 Gawad Mamamahayag
Pangkampus
09.00a Opening Ceremonies
Welcome Remarks
Keynote Address Road bloc: Proactive, Developmental Journalism
10.00a Plenary Lecture 1
“Discovering my purpose” Road bloc: Personal Vision and Motivation
10.45a Satellite Workshop 1
Campus Journalism Situationer Road bloc: SWOT Analysis
11.30a Plenary Presentation Road bloc: Post the analysis
12.00n LUNCH
01.00p Group Dynamics 1
“Symmetrical Triangle” Road bloc: Leadership in action
01.40p Plenary Lecture 2
“Journalists are Leaders Road bloc: Leadership and ethical journalism behind
leading ethically” the scene
02.15p Plenary Lecture 3
“The Power of Reading” Road bloc: It takes reading to write more
03.15p Satellite Workshop 3
Campus Publication Evaluation Road bloc: Discover the culture
04.00p Plenary Presentation Road bloc: Post the evaluation
04.30p Plenary Lecture 4
“My role in nation building” Road bloc: Student publication as local newspapers
05.15p Unfreezing Activities
(Announcement of Manila Declaration…)
06.00p DINNER
07.30p Sensitivity Training Road bloc: Self renewal
10.00p Lights Off

DAY 2
08.00a BREAKFAST
08.45a Registration
09.00a Group Dynamics 2
Management of Learning Road bloc: Review
09.30a Plenary Lecture 5
“Republic Act 7079” Road bloc: Panel discussion, panelists to include a
lawyer, administrator, editor, CHED official, (2)
lawmakers
10.30a Open Forum Road bloc: Understand the Law
11.15a Satellite Workshop 4
Blueprint of Disparity Road bloc: Campus issues
12.00n LUNCH
01.00p Group Dynamics 3
Team Building Activities Road bloc: Camaraderie building
02.00p Plenary Lecture 6
“It takes a team” Road bloc: Theories and Processing
02.45p Plenary Lecture 7
“The Vital Role of ICT” Road bloc: Stay connected
03.15p Satellite Workshop 5
Conceptualizing Regional Website Road bloc: Planning for implementation
04.15p Plenary Presentation Road bloc: Post concepts
05.15 Submission of Manila Declaration
on Sustainable Development and
Commitment to Ethical Standard
and Resolution (in draft)

Preparation for Socials

06.00p DINNER
07.30p The launching of the 1st Philippine
Campus Journalism Awards

2005 Gawad Mamamahayag

Pangkampus

Social Night (Filipiniana Attire)

11.00p Light Off

Day 3

08.00a BREAKFAST
08.45a Registration
09.00a Group Dynamics 4
Management of Learning
09.30a Satellite Workshop 6
Crafting of Local Action Plans,
programs and projects
11.00a Plenary Presentation Road bloc: Output
11.30a Manila Declaration on
Sustainable Development and
Commitment to Ethical
Standard
12.00n LUNCH
Home Sweet Home Home Sweet Home