As part of their call for responsible journalism in the upcoming elections, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) held a series of journalism workshops on Feb. 19 and 20 with the theme “Mamamahayag at Kabataan para sa Malinis at Tapat na Halalan” to serve as a pre-event of the 78th National Student Press Convention (NSPC).

Conducted via Zoom and broadcasted live on Facebook, the event opened its first day of training with guest speaker Mr. John Albert Pagunsan, Program Director for Fact Check Philippines, who discussed the various types of fake news and techniques to verify statements in the media. 

Pagunsan's fact-checking workshop centered around differentiating fraudulent and factual information and how best to use campus publications to prevent the spread of misinformation. Following his presentation, he imparted his insights on several uncertainties and reservations the participants had regarding the topic.

The second day of training commenced with a "How to Cover Elections Workshop" in partnership with National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Vice-Chairperson Kath Cortez who covered the crucial role of campus journalists in the social landscape. Cortez stressed the importance of media in the implementation of free and fair elections while also foreshadowing the highly demanding, stressful, and dangerous circumstances for media practitioners. She ensured that the participants were aware of the risks that come with covering the elections and provided advice on how to prevent unwanted situations from arising.

The journalism skills training prepares the participants for the project's subsequent phases, including community journalism and Special Election Coverage.

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines is the oldest and most comprehensive intercollegiate alliance of student publications. It is also the national center for the advancement of campus press freedom. Since its foundation, CEGP has remained steadfast in its commitment to uphold freedom of expression, press freedom, and students’ democratic rights.