Campus journalism: Today and beyond

Campus journalism is close to my heart.

- RAMON RAFAEL BONILLA

It is the foundation of who I am today — from my years of honing my craft and competing as a young writer since Grade 4, up to my college days when I took my communication degree in Manila, my career path was plain and simple: I wanted to write and make a living out of it.

As the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC), the Olympics of campus journalism, comes to a close today, Friday, May 23, in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, one would wonder — from the sea of journos realizing their dreams of representing their provinces in the biggest stage of all - who among them would actually be media practitioners in the near future?

The smallest percentage, I guess.

Elementary and secondary students train for months to qualify from the division level, the regionals, and to the nationals, where only the champion from each of the 17 areas could set foot on the grandest battle for budding scribes, cartoonists, photojournalists, and even broadcasters.