Meet John Dave Brion of the University of Caloocan City

Truth seekers. Truth speakers. Truth defenders.

John Dave Brion believes that journalism must serve the masses by providing accurate and sound stories.  

He serves as the current Editor-in-Chief of The New Crossroads, the official student publication of the University of Caloocan City.

To get to know him better, Republicasia asked John Dave a few questions about his journey as a student journalist fighting for press freedom in the country. 

Behind the Persona

Tell me about yourself as a student journalist and your life outside of publication.

Journalism has been really close to my heart since 2017, however I was not a part of campus publication until in senior high school as I applied to be a news writer in 2019. Then the pandemic hit and the publication became inactive. Basically, I joined UCC The New Crossroads last 2021 without enough experience.That’s why until now I still can’t believe that I got the position of being an Editor-in-Chief after I applied in the Publication Year 2023-2024 TNC’s Editorial Board examination. Becoming the EIC of the publication has been a challenge for me as I handle all three campuses of our university (EDSA Campus, Congressional Campus, and Camarin Campus), since I am responsible for everything that revolves around the publication.

Defining Moment

Tell me about that ‘defining moment’ that made you pursue journalism and continue to do so.

Journalism for me is not the same as what I used to think. I, as a journalist, serve a purpose and that is to amplify voices of the unheard. Being a journalist is not just a profession but a medium of reality too as we are there to tell stories that the powerholders ignore and want to hide. We are here to serve the masses through delivering information that they need and deserve to know.

Generation Voice

What do you think is the most pressing issue that affects press freedom in the country nowadays? What do you think are the significant roles of young journalists in advancing genuine national press freedom?

These days, what I think is the most pressing issue that affects press freedom is how journalists lose their credibility. Since the Duterte administration; trolls, pro-administration vloggers, and even the government themselves, try to discredit the profession of journalists. Having a platform that is not included in mainstream media, I think we, student journalists, can build credibility with the masses. Thus, as young media practitioners, we must serve the masses with facts and truth. We should not settle only on the purpose of serving the students with information related to the institution we belong to, rather we must serve everyone, inside and outside the university, with the stories they need to know. 

Powerful Quote

Tell me about your mantra as a journalist. What message can you give to the aspiring journalist of the new generation?

Nowadays, being a journalist is not only a profession, but it is a fight towards a true democracy— and that includes us, student journalists. Press freedom is continuously experiencing a lot of attacks, thus, defending press freedom is not enough, rather we must fight for it as well.