Abstract:
The study was conducted to assess the participation of publication-members and non-members involvement to campus press in Benguet State University.
Specifically, the study aimed to determine the participation of non-members in some identified campus press-related activities; the reasons affecting the level of participation of non-members to campus publication; the strategies being applied by the publications in some campus press-related activities; the participation of the publication members in processes in producing publication issues as observed by the publication’s adviser; problems faced by the campus publications in relation to students’ engagement in campus press; the problems faced by the campus publications in relation to campus press suppression; how problems and challenges encountered are being addressed by campus publications; and the socio-demographic profiles of the respondents.
The study was conducted from December-January 2014. There was a total of 125 respondents. The data gathered were through survey questionnaires and personal interviews.The results revealed that majority of the respondents were not interested in the publication/s. Majority of them did not attend press conferences/ seminars/ trainings initiated by the campus publications and did not contribute articles to the campus publications whether in the college publication or in the mother publication. Moreover, the study noted that the topmost reason why majority of the respondents did not like to apply as members of any publication is because writing or journalism is not in line with their academic degree. The top most reason also why majority of the respondents did not attend press conferences/seminars/trainings and did not contribute articles are lack of time and lack of interest in writing, respectively.
Data also showed that all publications utilized foremost posters to announce upcoming activities. Evaluation forms were most utilized in getting the assessments of participants of activities conducted by the publications.
Results also noted that the editors-in-chief primarily scout and write most of the articles. They also got the highest rate in terms of doing their task in the process of developing articles. Majority of the publication-members also helped in the distribution of publication papers.
Moreover, the topmost problem faced by the campus publication in relation to publication-members and non-members‟ engagement is lack of applicants and lack of commitment, respectively.
Two publications in the university suffered from campus press suppression. The publications resolved this problem by conducting open fora between the erring parties. Generally, there was minimal participation and less appreciation among students to campus press-related activities.
It is recommended that RA 7079 or Campus Journalism Act of 1991 may be disseminated to all campus publications for their awareness.
