Management of Public Elementary School Paper in Bauan District, Division of Batangas

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The management of school paper has never been without problems over the years. While the schools in the district continue to participate in various programs and activities related to journalism, school paper advisers encounter many problems. Thus, there is a need to identify the status of school paper publication, to assess the skills and competencies of school paper advisers and to determine the extent through which the advisers consider the criteria in the selection of the editorial staff. The study has an end in view of producing, a three-pronged management plan to support the school paper production.

METHODS

Using a descriptive survey method, this academic and research undertaking involved twenty-four school paper advisers and twenty-four school administrators in Bauan East and Bauan West Districts, Division of Batangas. A researcher-made questionnaire was the main instrument used to gather relevant data for the study; interviews and documentary analysis were also employed. Data obtained were described and analyzed using some statistical tools such as simple frequency count, percentage, weighted mean and independent t-test.

RESULTS

The results revealed that all schools participated in school paper competitions and press conferences but fail to reach the Regional and National Levels of Competition. Fourteen schools have complete editorial staff. Only a few school paper publications won in different categories and levels of competitions. The school paper publication needs logistic support. Most of the school paper advisers lack training on campus journalism in different categories and in different levels of training. Both school paper advisers and administrators assessed that their skills and competencies in Journalism as General, Copy Reading, and Headline Writing, Writing the Lead and News story, Editorial Writing and Cartooning, Feature Writing and Photojournalism as Good. Their assessment in Sports Writing and Laying Out was Fair. There were no significant differences between the assessments of the respondents in terms of the advisers' skills and competencies in journalism. The criteria for pupils' participation as Section Editors were moderately considered.

DISCUSSIONS

Schools must provide a journalism room with enough facilities and equipment, purchase reference books in journalism and daily tabloids and broadsheets; school paper advisers should be given ample time amount of training in journalism in different categories and in different levels. Section editors must be trained well to meet the criteria in their participation in editorial board. The management plan may be presented to concerned authorities for evaluation, may and be adopted and implemented by the school administrators, school paper advisers, and editorial staff in support of the production of the school paper. This may be used by other researchers who will delve in similar studies.