A Research Reflection

By Joselda Olermo BSE ENG 3B

The study, "Campus Journalism: Varying Cultures and Its Effects on Secondary
Campus Journalists," delves into the culture of campus journalism and how it affects
the students involved. The researchers used purposive sampling among the four
participating secondary publications to gather first-hand data, which was obtained
through interviews and questionnaire completion. The findings show that most
female journalists are interested in writing areas, while male journalists are more in
line with visual fortes. They use television and social media as credible references.
And in terms of communicating inside the publication, they practice interactive
communication. Some of the aspects of campus journalism culture that the
respondents recognized are attending conferences, presswork, and special training.
They also faced problems such as late releases of issues, losing the readers’
interests, and so on. The analysis of culture and other variables suggests that there
is an improvement in their habit of following current events, which has a positive
effect on their socio-cultural awareness. They also agree that their self-discipline and
writing skills improved after joining journalism.

Campus journalism allows students to explore and discover a culture that allows
them to become the voice and ears of the masses, and this is what will set them
apart from the rest of the students as they participate in so-called "press work,"
where they will be tasked with brainstorming, meeting and interviewing strangers,
writing countless articles, and dealing with problems such as those mentioned in the
study. Being a consistent part of this cycle will enable them to absorb and master the
skills required for the work, such as communication and writing skills. They will get to
know the dos and don'ts, and they will get to practice them with guidance and special
training. It is not an easy job, considering that this is just an extracurricular activity
and the students involved need to sacrifice their time for it. They will be in a constant
battle with the pressure to become better; like professionals in the industry, they also
must become specialists in their campus community. But every sacrifice comes with
fruition.

Back when I was in senior high school, I applied to become part of our campus
newspaper. I didn't last long for certain reasons, but being a part of it for weeks
allowed me to see how they work and deal with situations. I was fascinated by the
way they manage their busy schedules; even when they have research to prepare
for, they still make time to attend meetings, write and pass their articles on time.
They were also very open to critics, and if the advisor asked them to remake their
work, they would do so without complaining. I believe one of the best parts of it was
that I was able to meet different people, such as the Dumagat tribe. I had a chance
to observe their way of life and interview them. For a short time, it gave me a deeper
understanding of who they are and how much they were neglected. One of our head
writers told me that being in the campus newspaper will make you mature. It's true,
because you'll be more aware and involved in what's going on in your community,
and it'll open your eyes to everything from a bird's-eye perspective and make you
question life. Other than that, there is always this pressure of being a part of campus
journalism, and it’s no joke, but it is a kind of pressure that someday one will be
thankful for because it will force you to constantly improve, not just on your skills but
also on yourself. That is also my reason for agreeing with the researcher when they
mentioned that campus journalism has become an avenue for the youth to hone their
skills, be disciplined. When I think about it, I regret not pursuing it.
 A Research Reflection
By Joselda Olermo BSE ENG 3B

I have had a brief experience with the campus newspaper, but I thought I already
knew everything. The study's findings made me realize what most of their
respondents’ experience, such as the declining rate of readers in school. When I was
a part of it, I didn't observe or take into consideration whether the readers would take
an interest in reading; all I knew was that I must stick with the idea they gave me and
satisfy my advisor. I didn't know it until now that the goal is to write for my fellow
students, not just for the sake of approval. And for this to not happen to others, I
believe that student journalists must be encouraged to discover and brainstorm their
own ideas rather than spoon-feeding them just like what the researchers also
recommend for the publications interviewed. It is important that they must be
continually engaged in activities that will help them improve their views because their
perspective in life affects their writing. A torch will not burn brightly if not lighted
properly.

Overall, the study covers a great context of campus journalism nevertheless, I feel
that it might be improved by adding to the number of campus publications included
so that data can cover a greater range of respondents' experiences. Also, I believe it
would be an excellent topic for a study comparing campus journalists from public and
private institutions, as well as a study focusing on the challenges and concerns that
campus media faces.

Reference
Dela Rosa, J.H., Lucero, J.N., Vargas, D. (February 28, 2021). Campus journalism:
varying cultures and its effects to secondary campus journalists. SSRN.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3794713