DAGUPAN CITY — Campus journalists in the Ilocos Region are being called to take an active role in fighting disinformation, as Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the media landscape.
With AI-generated content becoming more widespread, young journalists must ensure that facts remain at the core of responsible reporting.
This was the key message during the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC), held in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, from Feb. 11 to 14.
The event, themed “Media for Inclusion: Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Integrity through Campus Journalism,” highlighted the need for ethical and fact-based journalism in the digital age.
Department of Education (DepEd) Region 1 Director Tolentino Aquino emphasized that the Schools Press Conference is more than just a competition—it is a platform to enhance students’ journalistic skills while upholding integrity in an era of evolving technology.
“The DepEd believes that the Schools Press Conference is not just a competition but also an avenue to enhance students’ skills and uphold ethical journalism amid evolving technological challenges,” Aquino said, assuring continued support for this program to empower young journalists.
Challenges and responsibilities
Lady Vicencio, ABS-CBN correspondent and keynote speaker, acknowledged AI’s usefulness in media but also warned of its role in spreading disinformation through manipulated narratives and images.
“AI is transforming the way we create and do things. You can generate a story or a piece of writing through AI, but remember that it is still different when it comes from the heart. When a work is created by a person, it can genuinely connect with emotions,” she said.
Student journalists advocate integrity
Justine Delos Santos, a representative of SDO Pangasinan II in radio scriptwriting and broadcasting, said that journalism is a powerful tool for truth and accountability.
“Journalism is ore than just a competition; it teaches us to be responsible in disseminating fact-checked information,” Delos Santos said.
Ethan Delos Reyes, a representative of SDO Dagupan in the photojournalism competition, echoed the same sentiment.
“Journalism should deliver accurate and reliable information that empowers people to understand the world around them.As they said, AI can generate write-ups, writing from the heart creates a deeper connection with the audience,” he said.
As AI continues to shape the media landscape, the RSPC underscores the role of campus journalists in safeguarding truth, promoting accuracy, and ensuring that information enlightens rather than misleads. (CCMT/JCDR, PIA Pangasinan)
