Media Information Literacy and Research Skills of Student Journalists in Public Secondary Schools

This study examined the relationship between media information literacy and research skills among high school student journalists in public secondary schools in Sto. Tomas District, Division of Davao del Norte. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was used, with 134 student journalists selected through quota sampling from four public secondary schools. Data were gathered through adapted survey instruments that measured media information literacy in terms of access, evaluation, and use of media and information, and research skills in terms of problem identification and conceptualization, information and evidence-seeking, research methodology, statistics/quantitative analysis and evidence evaluation, and communication and language skills. Mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression were used for analysis. Results showed that media information literacy was high overall, with access to media and information as the highest domain. Research skills were also high overall, with information and evidence-seeking skills as the highest domain. Media information literacy had a strong, positive, and statistically significant relationship with research skills. Regression analysis showed that all three media information literacy domains significantly influenced research skills, with use of media and information as the strongest predictor. The findings indicate that student journalists’ research competence is strengthened when media access, source evaluation, and applied information use are developed as integrated competencies in campus journalism instruction.