RENOWNED AMERICAN JOURNALIST Bob Woodward, who exposed the burglary of the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) offices at the Watergate complex that brought down then-U.S. President Richard Nixon, once remarked that “The central dilemma in journalism is that you don’t know what you don’t know.”
I have been a student-journalist now for over a decade. I got my start in this field when I signed up to be a writer at the Letran Scroll, the official student publication of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Junior High School. There, I rose up the ranks to become its longest-serving Editor-in-Chief, from my junior to senior year in Junior High. So, when I moved to San Beda University (SBU), of course it was a no-brainer for me to join The Bedan Roar, the official student publication of the Senior High School level. By Grade 12, I became its Managing Editor.
“Please know that behind every byline in this publication lies a story of utmost dedication, superb passion, and unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth.”
Surely, by the time I enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), it was again just muscle memory for me to sign up to become a staffer for The Bedan, its official student publication. At the time, what seemed to be minute and mundane work, diluted even more by the distance wrought by the pandemic’s distance-learning modality, possessed no indication that it would ever amount to anything more meaningful than the past. I was mistaken.
When we first heard of the plight of the University’s employees, our hearts sank. We never thought that an institution of San Beda’s caliber would ever let down its personnel. But as journalists, it is our duty to shed light on both the triumphs and the tribulations of our tightknit and close Bedan community. The process of writing our recent article series about the Union’s plight in its negotiations, as well as the rank-and-file employees’ concerns, was a journey filled with such deep introspection, extensive collaboration between us and our sources, and a deep and burgeoning sense of journalistic responsibility.
As a trusted publication, we understood the gravity of the situation and the importance of presenting it accurately and ethically. We delved deeply into the issues at hand, seriously attempting to dissect the timeline and the facts in order to grasp the intricacies of the entire collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations, the delays in the distribution of the salary increase, among others. A multitude of interviews were done to help provide transparency and insight into the perspectives of the University management, the Union, and the employees.
But beyond the surface level of reporting, we aimed to capture the essence of the human experience behind the numbers and policies. Through the words of the people we spoke with, we got an ultimate glimpse into the emotions of hope, determination, and resilience resonating within the teaching and non-teaching personnel. Their journey from apprehension to acceptance mirrored our own as journalists navigating the complexities of truth-telling.
In crafting this article, we grappled with Woodward’s words, acknowledging that there is always more to uncover, more perspectives to consider, and more stories to tell. We humbly accepted the responsibility of being the voice of our community, knowing that our words have the power to inspire change, foster understanding, and ignite empathy.
As we continue to pursue truth-telling in campus journalism, rest assured that The Bedan remains committed to upholding the values of integrity, objectivity, and empathy. Please know that behind every byline in this publication lies a story of utmost dedication, superb passion, and unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth. And as we navigate this new age of journalism, we will do so with humility, curiosity, and a profound sense of purpose. Because in the end, I believe that it is not just about the articles we write or the stories we choose to tell, but about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way.
Email me at thebedan_editorinchief@sanbeda.edu.ph