The Ultimate Gathering of Future Media Giants: 3rd National Campus Journalism Convention 2025 Unveiled!

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The 3rd National Campus Journalism Convention 2025, organized by TRAC PHILIPPINES (Transforming Advocates and Champions, Inc.), is taking place today, from March 9 to 11, 2025, at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel in Manila. This three-day event aims to empower student journalists by emphasizing the critical role of upholding human rights in a democratic society.

Event Overview

Theme: Empowering Journalists' Voices: Upholding Human Rights in Democratic Society

Dates: March 9, 2025 (11:00 AM) – March 11, 2025 (12:00 NN)

Venue: Manila Grand Opera Hotel, City of Manila, National Capital Region

Participants: The convention expects to host between 300 to 350 participants, including college and senior & junior high student journalists, student affairs practitioners, student organization advisers, and club moderators from approximately 75 to 100 schools, colleges, and universities across the Philippines.

Organizational Background

Established in 2018, TRAC PHILIPPINES is a non-profit organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Youth Commission's Youth Organization Registration Program (NYC-YORP). The organization specializes in comprehensive development training, focusing on transformational and purpose-driven leadership. One of its core tenets is the promotion of Republic Act No. 7079, known as the Campus Journalism Act of 1991, which underscores the importance of campus journalism in fostering freedom of expression and information dissemination.

Convention Highlights

The convention features a robust program designed to enrich the skills and perspectives of budding journalists:

Plenary Sessions: Esteemed speakers from the Philippine media landscape will address participants, sharing insights and experiences relevant to the convention's theme.

Competitions: Student journalists will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in various categories, including editorial writing, news writing, feature writing, sports news writing, editorial cartooning, photojournalism, documentary vlogging, and best student publication paper (digital).

Workshops: Interactive sessions, such as photography workshops, will provide hands-on experience, allowing participants to hone their craft under the guidance of industry professionals.

Solidarity Night: A cultural evening designed to foster camaraderie and celebrate the diverse backgrounds of the participants, strengthening the community of campus journalists.

Significance in the Current Global Context

The convention's focus on empowering journalists and upholding human rights is particularly pertinent given recent global events:

Global Advocacy for Press Freedom: Organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and PEN America continue to champion the rights of journalists worldwide. RSF, for instance, works tirelessly to defend freedom of information, providing daily briefings on threats to media freedom and publishing the annual World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the state of media freedom in 180 countries. 

Similarly, PEN America's Free Expression programs defend writers and journalists, focusing on issues such as fraudulent news and media literacy, and advocating for free speech in educational institutions. 

Challenges in Authoritarian Regimes: In countries like Azerbaijan, there has been an intensification of repression against journalists and human rights defenders. Ahead of hosting the U.N. climate conference COP29, Azerbaijan faced accusations of escalating its crackdown on freedom of speech, with multiple journalists and activists detained under dubious charges. 

Such incidents highlight the ongoing struggles faced by journalists in authoritarian regimes.

Sanctuaries for Exiled Journalists: Initiatives like the House of Critical Voices in Schmerwitz, Germany, provide safe havens for exiled journalists, photographers, and social media activists from various countries. This project underscores the vital need to protect press freedom and support threatened journalists in their efforts to report on human rights abuses. 

Conclusion

The 3rd National Campus Journalism Convention 2025 serves as a pivotal platform for nurturing the next generation of journalists in the Philippines. By focusing on the intersection of journalism and human rights, the convention not only equips participants with essential skills but also instills a deep appreciation for the role of a free press in sustaining democratic societies. In a world where press freedoms are continually challenged, such initiatives are crucial in empowering journalists to uphold truth and justice.

Here is the schedule of activities for the 3rd National Campus Journalism Convention 2025:

March 9, 2025 | Sunday

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Registration of Participants

Opening Ceremony

1:00 – 1:30 PM

National Anthem

Ecumenical Prayer

TRAC AVP

1:30 – 1:40 PM

Opening Production

1:40 – 3:00 PM

Welcome Message

Opening Remarks

Introduction of Delegates

3:00 – 4:00 PM

Plenary Session 1: Keynote Speaker

Ms. Ging Reyes (Former Head of Integrated News and Current Affairs, ABS-CBN)

4:00 – 4:30 PM

Awarding and Photo Op

4:30 – 5:00 PM

Check-In

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Student Competitions:

Editorial Writing

News Writing

Feature Writing

Sports News Writing

6:30 – 8:30 PM

Dinner

March 10, 2025 | Monday

6:00 – 8:00 AM

Breakfast

8:00 – 8:30 AM

Recap of First Day

Animation

8:30 – 10:30 AM

Student Competitions:

Editorial Cartooning

Photojournalism

Documentary Vlog

Best Student Publication Paper (Digital)

10:30 – 12:00 NN

Parallel Session 1: Photography Workshop

Resource Speaker 1:

DJ Jhaiho (Radio DJ and Television Host)

12:00 – 1:15 PM

Lunch

1:15 – 1:30 PM

Gathering of Participants

1:30 – 2:30 PM

Resource Speaker 2:

Ms. Jing Castañeda (Broadcaster | Advocate | Storyteller)

Topic: "Tradigital Journalism (Traditional & Digital)"

2:30 – 2:45 PM

Forum

2:45 – 3:45 PM

Resource Speaker 3:

Mr. Paolo Del Rosario (Filipino Sports Broadcaster and Host)

Topic: "Content with a Purpose: Nation-Building through Sports"

3:45 – 4:00 PM

Forum

4:00 – 4:45 PM

Resource Speaker 4:

Ms. Jacque Manabat (Independent Journalist | Investigative & Data Reporter | Content Creator)

Topic: "Storytelling for Social Media"

4:45 – 5:00 PM

Forum

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Preparation for Solidarity/Cultural Night

6:30 – 7:00 PM

Dinner

7:00 – 10:00 PM

Solidarity Night 2025

Deadline of Judging Entries

March 11, 2025 | Tuesday

6:00 – 8:00 AM

Breakfast

8:00 – 8:30 AM

Animation

8:30 – 9:15 AM

Closing Message:

CJ Maria Lourdes Sereno (Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines)

9:15 – 11:00 AM

Awarding and Closing Ceremony:

Participating Schools

Judges

Student Competitions Winners

Editorial Writing

News Writing

Feature Writing

Sports News Writing

Editorial Cartooning

Photojournalism

Documentary Vlog

Best Student Publication Paper

11:00 – 11:30 AM

Synthesis of the Convention

11:30 – 12:00 NN

Evaluation and Photo-Op

12:00 NN

Home Sweet Home

This schedule ensures a well-rounded learning experience for participants, combining expert discussions, hands-on competitions, and cultural engagements.

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