Toledo City, Philippines – The 2025 Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) officially conducted a mini conference on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Luray II High School. The event gathered participants for various group categories, including Collaborative Desktop Publishing, Online Publishing, and TV Scriptwriting and Broadcasting.
Dr. Maria Kenneth S. Nengasca, Curriculum Implementation Division Chief of the Department of Education, Schools Division of Toledo City, led the conference, which focused on the recent accomplishments of DepEd Toledo City Division. The event aimed to enhance the skills of young journalists and introduce them to the evolving landscape of news publication.
Insights on Online Publishing
The North City Central School served as the designated contest area and lecture venue for the Online Publishing category. The session was facilitated by Mr. Jet Garigade, who provided valuable insights into online designing and desktop publishing. He emphasized the importance of online publication, its features, and its uniqueness, particularly in terms of infographics.
Mr. Garigade highlighted the importance of high-resolution images to achieve the best quality for online publications. He also discussed the advantages of online publishing, emphasizing its ability to reach a mass audience and its real-time news dissemination capabilities. “In a world full of noise, we are the ones that amplify the voices that need to be heard,” he remarked.
One of the key advantages of online publishing is the ability to customize the website to include audio, video, infographics, and interactive activities. Additionally, website engagement monitoring is an essential feature, allowing journalists to assess audience interaction with their content.
Transitioning from Traditional to Digital Journalism
Mr. Garigade also pointed out the environmental benefits of online publication, stating that the shift from printed materials to digital platforms helps minimize the demand for printing paper, thereby reducing environmental issues. He encouraged young journalists to adapt to modern news delivery methods while ensuring that articles remain brief yet precise to cater to contemporary readers, especially the youth.
He also elaborated on the distinction between websites and web publications. While websites update their landing pages and images seasonally, web publications change daily or whenever a new article is published. Furthermore, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in online publication was discussed, particularly in picture editing. Unlike traditional editing methods, AI-powered tools offer faster and more efficient editing features, reducing the workload for journalists.
Challenges and Contest Guidelines
During the session, Mr. Garigade engaged with the Campus Journalists (CJs), asking them to introduce themselves and share their challenges in webpage layout design. One participant pointed out that premium accounts provide better features and functionalities compared to free versions, which have limited access.
The session concluded with a summary of key takeaways and contest guidelines. The Technical Working Group (TWG) provided final reminders before the contestants proceeded to their designated contest rooms, ready to apply their newfound knowledge in their respective categories.
🖊Philip John Budiongan – Teacher I, TCSHS
📷 Rowel Reponte – MTII, TNVS
