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A student journalist doesn’t have to be limited to their campus, but some choose to be bound to competitions. With Explained PH’s JournCamp+ commencing today, November 8, the pens of journos are once again ignited. Motivated writers across the archipelago are warming up for the most-awaited virtual journalism camp of the year. According to Explained PH’s registration data, 67.6% of participants come from Luzon, 15.2% from Visayas, and 17.2% from Mindanao. These figures show how passionate campus journalists are in learning and improving their craft. Yet amid these numbers, how many truly understand the role of being a journalist? Better yet, what is journalism in the first place? According to Today Digital, it is the craft and science of gathering and presenting news through mass media in factual form, guided by the goal of showing the significance of news in people’s lives. As campus journalists, it is our duty to uphold truth amid media manipulation and to serve the public with accurate, unbiased, and timely information. Journalism is the voice of the youth that many still try to silence—it holds the power to shape how people see the reality within and beyond the nation. And by looking at the numbers, the pag-asa ng bayan is indeed awake and active. Though many regard it as their home, the stage where they perform best, it is worth mentioning that the weight of the field is more than just winning the first level and moving on to the next. The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with 184 cases of attacks and threats against media workers just from July 1, 2022, to April 30, 2025, according to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) this May. Journalism isn’t just a field to be won—it is the communication bearer, especially in times of calamity. Recently, speculations about the true value of journalism have risen—some believe that once you place or win, you’ve already become one. However, if they hold on to the mentality that it is only an award to grab, then impurity has seeped into morality. Because once that happens, it is the corruption of a journalist’s integrity. It violates the primary purpose of being a journalist and defeats the soul of journalism. Yes, validation is nice, and gaining a spot is also important as it shows the yield of a student’s hard work, effort, and passion, but if the sole intention is to collect decorations, no matter in what way—even if ignorance is bleeding through the paper—then the decoration remains merely as one. In this situation, ignorance isn't bliss. The willful blindness belittles the toil of CJs who write for hours, document in the sun, and edit endlessly for their publications, and the service of professional journalists who place their lives on the frontlines to deliver news during disasters and grave political issues. Like the murder case of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid in 2022, this line of work is not only “sulat-sulat lang.” Achievements are not the only criteria you need to go over; the journalistic code of ethics must be lodged in your mind and writings. Because it does not limit our capabilities, it balances and reminds writers of the boundaries of being one. It anchors us from going overboard, and crucially, it makes us human. As one, I’ve had moments of doubt—wondering if I’ve written pieces that truly inform and serve. And yes, I, too, have dreamt of obtaining medals for my categories. It is only natural for us humans to aim for something great; still, being obsessed with certifications and insignia isn’t worth diminishing your own credos and ethos. Imagine if field reporters, namely Jeff Canoy and Emil Sumangil, stressed achieving honors rather than ensuring the masses are informed of the condition of the country, To whom would Filipinos turn for reliable, on-the-spot news? A CJ is not marked by the number of medals hanging from their neck or the height of the podium they reach—it is inked by how they prioritize truth and empathy—putting accuracy before applause, and service before self. Because if we expect officials to act with honesty yet carry the same corrupt mindset, we are no better than those we criticize. For such, as simple as sharing the link for the Explained PH’s JournCamp+ to those who had not paid the registration fee is an unjust act for those who did. And with our situation today, medals won’t save you when facing Typhoon Uwan. Thus, campus journalists must be reminded of their primary role in journalism. They must once again review the journalistic code of ethics because principles shape what one writes. Journalists should see beyond the glamor of recognition and know that journalism is both a beauty and a beast. On one side, it can raise one’s thoughts as a pursuit of action, but in another clause, it could cost you criticism and even the possibility of red-tagging. Additionally, from the Foreign Media Association, to be a responsible and integrous correspondent, one must bear the virtues of independence, fairness and impartiality, truth and accuracy, humanity, and accountability. Ultimately, make the want of distinctions and laurels a motivation to push you to become a better journo, not the center of your character. Notably, at this time of artificial intelligence being rampant and abused, the least we can do is fulfill our position in society, a dynamic society that is in need of equal shaping and clarity. Beyond campus walls and competition rooms, a student journalist becomes a journalist.