Lived Experiences of School Paper Advisers in Secondary Campus Journalism: A Phenomenological Approach

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

School paper advisers play an important role in the success of campus journalism. The advisers keep the balance between supervising the student-journalists while providing them the full liberty to produce their own publication that precisely represents the student body. However, there are lots of secondary public school advisers who could not function well, and it causes weak campus journalism. This study explored the existing level of knowledge, practices, and lived experiences of the school paper adviser to create a comprehensive program that would improve campus journalism.

METHODS

This study employed the descriptive-qualitative design of research following the phenomenological method. Qualitative data in terms of lived experiences of the school paper advisers were collected through a semi-structured interview with thirteen (13) informants. The study used Colaizzi's method on thematic qualitative data analysis in describing the lived experiences and issues and concerns encountered by the school paper advisers.

RESULTS

The study revealed that most of the SPA's have adequate campus journalism advising experience; have earned units in graduate studies which are not related to journalism; and have attended training/seminars/workshops attended related to campus journalism, and had actual experience in campus journalism when they were still students. The issues and concerns encountered by the school paper advisers involve with their background characteristics such as number of years as school paper adviser; an educational background that is not related to journalism; and lack of school's support to campus journalism in terms of coordination and training opportunities. Most of the school paper adviser disclosed to have malpractices in campus journalism such as acting as gate-keepers on articles that would be published, plagiarism practices, micromanaging the finances, writing the articles themselves, and designing the layout by themselves.

DISCUSSIONS

Information provided by the informants helped draw an implication that there is a need for a comprehensive program that would improve the practices of the school paper advisers since they are the main catalysts for the success of campus journalism. It is recommended that the designed training proposals and interventions for the school paper advisers, which is an output of the study be adopted by the Department of Education.