A Message for the Young Voices of Ozamiz
OZAMIZ CITY - The opening of the 2026 Division Schools Press Conference carried a message of encouragement from Ozamiz City Mayor Sam Norman G. Fuentes, delivered by City Councilor Sancho Oaminal Jr. to the students gathered for the event. Instead of treating campus journalism simply as a competition, the message placed attention on what young writers can develop through the discipline of reporting and communication: careful thinking, principled judgment, and confidence in expressing ideas. The gathering also brought together school heads, teachers, journalism advisers, and education officials, creating a setting where students could see that their work is valued beyond the contest itself.
More Than Scores on a Contest Sheet
For a student journalist, a press conference can be a different kind of classroom. A blank sheet becomes a test of observation; an interview requires listening; and a deadline demands discipline. Those habits give campus journalism a practical role in education. DepEd Ozamiz's 2026 records show that the division has been conducting campus-journalism activities and enhancement training for students preparing for higher-level competitions, including the Regional Schools Press Conference. Earlier 2026 activities involved school paper advisers, coaches, campus journalists, and education supervisors. The September DSPC memorandum further documents the division's continuing organization of the individual journalism competition.
Giving Young Writers Room to Speak
There is something meaningful about seeing students gather with notebooks, cameras, recorders, keyboards, and ideas of their own. Campus journalism gives them a place to practice asking questions, checking information, shaping stories, and considering how words affect others. That makes the support expressed during the Ozamiz DSPC relevant beyond the awards ceremony. The city government's message and DepEd's continuing journalism activities point toward a simple opportunity for young people: learn to use a voice before they are expected to use it well. For Ozamiz students, the press conference becomes both a competition and a training ground for thoughtful communication.
