Campus writers urged to become ‘catalysts of change’ in NSPC 2020

Justice Raymond Reynold Lauigan speaks before campus journalists during the opening of the 2020 National Schools Press Conference in Tuguegarao City. (Photo: Charles Magallanes/Be An INQUIRER)

CAGAYAN, Philippines — A presiding judge of the Tuguegarao City Regional Trial Court urged on Monday campus journalists attending the weeklong 2020 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) to become “catalysts for change” by speaking and not compromising the truth.

In his keynote speech in the kickoff of the annual journalistic event, Justice Raymond Reynold Lauigan, who was once a student journo, said that young writers should have a “deep sense of responsibility to the community.”

“You must avoid twisting facts or manipulating events to suit your personal interest for the interest of certain groups,” he said.

Reyes also called on young scribes to discern true information from the fiction and falsehoods at times where fake news abounds.

“Understand and master the journalists’ creed that mandates that the journalism profession is imbued with public trust and those connected within are trustees for the public,” the justice said.

“You should speak the truth and must not compromise it, for you to be able to do that, you should remain independent and not allow others to use you,” he added.

Reyes further encouraged campus journalists to use their pens to effect change and empower their communities.

“Because through your research and journalistic work, you seek to bring a better life for others. Be like the great Jose Rizal who uses writings to voice out the ills of society,” Reyes said.

“But its most important that in doing so you are inspired by the right reasons, right motivation rather than use your pen to destroy others on what your personal interest and selfish interest or for personal favors,” he continued.

Thousands of campus journalists convene from March 9-13 in this city for the culmination of the largest gathering of the best and the brightest school writers from the country’s 17 regions.

Dubbed as the “Olympics of campus journalism,” the NSPC is organized annually by the Department of Education in pursuant to Republic Act no. 7079 or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991.