DSPC 2025

December 06, 2025 | 11:00 AM | PHT

By: Kiko Barzaga

DSPC 2025 Kicks Off in T’boli, Advancing Responsible Journalism

Young aspiring journalists from across South Cotabato are set to compete in this year’s Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC), which will be held in the Municipality of T’boli on December 4–7.

With the theme “Voices of Vigilance: Strengthening Trust Through Responsible Campus Journalism,” the event aims to promote fair and ethical media practices as key principles of responsible journalism.

This year, more than 40 secondary schools and around 30 elementary schools from across South Cotabato are expected to participate in the annual competition.

Day 0 begins on December 4, when all delegates are expected to arrive at their assigned quarters and will undergo laptop and gadget inspections conducted by the designated Technical Working Group.

The official opening program will take place the following day at the T’boli National High School Gymnasium, marking the formal start of the week-long campus journalism competition.

DSPC will start off with the individual writing events, followed by the group events the next day as all competitions will be held simultaneously according to their scheduled time slots

Winners will be announced on the final day; The Top 10 winners in each individual category will be recognized on stage, with the Top 5 earning the right to compete in the upcoming Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC). Meanwhile, for group events, the Top 3 teams will receive recognition, and the Top 1 will advance to the RSPC.

Their Individual and group standings will also contribute to determining the Best Performing School and Best Performing Municipality for this year’s DSPC.

Campus journalists, the hope and future of Journalists and the people of the country. The young speakers of the truth who are not afraid of anyone when facing the truth. The voice of the voiceless, the future defender of the righteous.

Young writers are young teens aspiring to become the future journalists and to defend the truth. They’ve shown what they’re capable of doing and that’s by creating and showing factual news to the people. Some parents might say that kids are just liars and will do anything for grades or just to show off but campus journalists showed how in times of defending and fighting for the truth, they are willing to do anything.

Older generations of journalists are just as daring as the younger one’s, even risking their own lives just to get information or to deliver the news. Journalism is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world as some involve powerful criminals and once they know you’ve spoken bad about them, they’ll be out to take your head out. Yet young teens dare to become campus journalists and to someday become a real journalist, knowing the risks of the job.

People will say, that teens are not showing or giving out factual information but the teens knows exactly how dangerous the job could get, if they were just to give out false information, why enter journalism in the first place? Some people, especially the coaches believe in the abilities of the young journalists to deliver factual information to the people.

Some journalists may have just entered just for fun and might not care if the information is factual or not. They might give out false information to the people and might cause a fuss. But mistakes can be corrected and you can always talk to the journalist about what he/she did was wrong and they always have to fact check before publishing or giving out information to anyone.

Campus journalists are the future of the older generations of journalists and the hope of the people in this county. Journalism must be preserved and kept as something important as journalism is part of our history and our present and as years goes by, journalism is slowly being forgotten. Journalism must be preserved as it is the one defending and fighting the truth for the safety of the people and giving out factual information to everyone.

Young minds are trustworthy

December 06, 2025 | 11:00 AM | PHT

BY: Blueberry Muffin

Young journalists are often underestimated because of their age. Journalists that’s older always thinks that the young journalists will always have a barrier with them. Despite their youth—a journalist’s determination and commitment to truth are not defined by their years.

Vigilance is not a quality you automatically earn through seniority. Instead, it is a trained, disciplined skill and an essential ethical mindset. Because responsibility is built on ethical training—not time served, a dedicated young journalist can be just as effective and trusted as any older journalists.

This newest generation of journalists is hopeful and won’t feel bad about their work, even if people don’t trust the news very much. They see where journalism has gone wrong, but they also know that reporters who are truly dedicated to sharing important and honest news have the ability to improve society

Fighting for the Facts: How Young Journalists Defeat Bias with Responsibility

December 06, 2025 | 11:00 AM | PHT

BY: Orange Blossom

They are truly worried about what is ahead, as they begin their careers during a time of huge changes in the world—like shifts in society, politics, the economy, the environment, and technology. They are also starting in a very difficult job where work is unsteady, they often feel stressed and unsupported, face terrible bullying and danger, and see that the companies they work for only care about making the biggest profit.

We don’t underestimate young journalists as they can do the same thing as older journalists can. With enough practice and determination, they can easily surpass older journalists.

Young reporters really want to fight for what is fair. They are often the first ones to bravely show the true, raw stories of people who are struggling or being treated unfairly. It’s this passion—not just getting older—that makes their reporting trustworthy and so important to the world.