Upon waking up, we are fed by the news flying so fast as if birds are sending paper mails around the world. News events are sorted as local, regional, national, and international. And even if we are living in our small, but wonderful country, we can still reach the timely occurrences from the other vicinities.
In the past, newspapers and radios provide the people’s satiate for news. The advent of technology invented the use of black and white television. However, only middle and above class families can afford the appliance. With its costly price, other people tend to ask permission to the owners whether they could also watch news anchors who deliver the latest happenings. Today, we can easily be updated by these important events in history not just by reading tabloids or newsletters, listening to radio or watching televisions, but also by connecting ourselves to different social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. We can listen to the fads and trends in showbiz. But if you have a neighbor who is very good in cascading gossips, that is god source of news (just kidding!).
In schools, campus journalism is one of the significant guilds that develop pupils’ awareness in listening, reading, writing, spreading, and deciphering news events mostly through printed materials and anchoring. It is the so called “eye opener” of various fields in media such as editorial, feature, literary, and sports.
It is important to train pupils in the field of journalism because of the need to link society to the school community. Pupils should be responsible to be related to whatever happens outside their learning hubs. Studying in school will not be effective and efficient without being exposed to the real situations in the community. Children easily believe to what they see or hear, so it is a must for them to develop higher order thinking skills and avoid biased commentaries. Media skills are now needed to fill the gap and provide the missing links in the entire nation.
Furthermore, the disadvantages of vast media production nowadays are conspicuously manifested by people who are referred as “netizens.” One click today and afterwards it is viral. One post or one published article reaches millions of people day by day. Pupils should be molded early to the boons and banes of media and journalism. They are the neophytes who will soon become catalysts and experts. They will be responsible to whatever cause and effect it may serve.
Elementary journalism caters rural and urban competencies by upholding school’s press conferences and competitions. Another factor that is boosted to pupils is the language skills – both in Filipino and English. The communication skills of the learners are gradually developed. Thus, their capabilities in the different modes of the language, media, and journalism will be truly helpful until they reach the peak of their growth. Even if they are kids, at least they are immersed in the world of professionalism.
By: GINA LOU A. ABALOS |Teacher II |Cupang Elementary School|Balanga, Bataan
