As a follower of development-oriented journalism, I find great joy in seeing student writers pursue their interest by writing articles that promote common good, especially in communities outside big cities.
Such joy is heightened when the interest in writing about school-community development is popularized and promoted, especially in the early years of the basic education level in the country.
Thus, I congratulate the Special Program in Journalism of Negros Occidental High School when it recently conducted and declared the Special Award in Development Journalism from among the eight grade-school entries in the school paper competition of the Division of Negros Occidental Schools Press Conference last month.
The competition was held in coordination with the Division’s Campus Journalism Program under Supervisor Ma’am Riza Gea.
NOHS-SPJ head Ana Batisla-on said “the competition was held to recognize the efforts of grade school publication to bring significant concerns not only to the level of awareness of learners but also of the community, including their parents, siblings, relatives and neighbors.”
The NOHS-SPJ hopes to make the competition an annual event that will sustain young student-writers’ interest in writing about both school and community life, especially in serving the information needs of people in rural communities.
Ma’am Batisla-on announced that the winner of the inaugural competition is The BEE, publication of Hinigaran Elementary School -B.
Ang SALINLAHI of EB Magalona ES and The CENTRAL of Candoni Central ES were adjudged first and second runners-up, respectively.
The winning paper, Batisla-on said, consistently promoted the message of development in all its pages by focusing on community issues, while, at the same time, relating them to students’ life.
In its Features Section, for example, its lead story was about developments in three key industries in the town – talaba, dried-fish production and firecrackers business – and how these enterprises have sustained families in meeting their daily needs, including the education of children.
The winning issue also focused on school-community cooperation and partnerships local peace and public health advisory and safety, waste and environmental management as well as business concerns and domestic and sports tourism.
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The BEE and SALINLAHI were also declared the Best Elementary School Papers in English and Filipino, respectively.
In the English category, the second to fifth placers, respectively, were The PENPOINT of EB Magalona ES, The RISING SUN of Talisay South ES, The MPES NEWSETTE of Moises Padilla ES and The SMALL VOICES of Tanza ES.
Finishing second behind SALINLAHI was the Filipino edition of The JUNIOR ARCHERS of Guinpana-an ES.
Congratulations to the development-oriented grade school writers and their advisers. Continue spreading the message of development in your communities.
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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17) | NWI
