ITOGON, Benguet – Some twenty learners from four public elementary and high schools in the town’s second district underwent a two-day Campus Journalism Seminar-Workshop at the Itogon Training Center last September 21-22, 2024.
This workshop was spearheaded by the Itogon Suyoc Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of Apex Mining Company, Inc., and Herald Express in partnership with Itogon District 2 of the Department of Education and the municipal government.
The participants to the training came from the Manganese Integrated School, Virac Integrated School, Laurencio Fianza National High School and the Goldfields Elementary School, all within the jurisdiction of Itogon District 2 under Public School District In Charge Juliet K. Baldo.
The campus journalism workshop was facilitated by Ma. Teresa L. Pacis, assistant vice president for corporate communications of Apex Mining, and Dexter See, a member of the Editorial Board of Herald Express.
The participants were provided with grammar exercises, an overview on the country’s media landscape, lecture on news writing and journalism ethics, and an on-the-spot interview with Mayor Bernard S. Waclin and the production of news articles as an offshoot of the interview.
Pacis reiterated the importance of having correct grammar because it will allow journalists to deliver clear messages to their readers through published or broadcasted articles.
Further, she challenged the young journalists to sustain their passion to practice the profession for them to be agents of change in their respective communities.
For his part, See reminded the campus journalists to intently listen and be observant during coverages so that they will not be left out in the spur-of-the-moment events that may transpire that will help add value and interest to their stories.
See encouraged them to practice their reading habits to help them hone their writing skills and develop their own writing style that they could use in delivering clear messages to their target audience.
On the other hand, Mayor Waclin rallied the participants to grab every opportunity for them to undergo similar training in the future because learning is a continuing process that will allow them to become learned individuals in the future.
The mayor pointed out that education and their faith in God cannot be taken away from them, thus, they should use their acquired skills and knowledge, coupled with their faith in God, to contribute in the growth and development of the municipality in the future, especially when they become professionals or whatever they desire to be.
Baldo said that the learners need more similar training on other aspects of journalism that is why she and the advisers of the various school papers within District 2 proposed to ISRI future undertakings to help in encouraging the learners to be actively involved in campus journalism.
Clyra Mire Mencio of Lurencio Fianza National High School expressed their school’s gratitude to the organizers of the event that allowed them to have added learnings they will use in improving their skills and knowledge to improve their school paper.
Zyra Marie Balantog of Virac Integrated School shared a similar message of gratitude to ISRI and Herald Express for their efforts in reaching out to them and providing them with additional skills and knowledge on the various aspects of campus journalism for them to be able to become effective campus journalists in the future.
Roselle Cruz of Goldfields Elementary School also reiterated their group’s heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors of the training that allowed them to acquire better knowledge about campus journalism for them to continue improving their campus paper and achieve the purpose of having their own publication.
Jorwil Tanascio of Manganese Integrated School emphasized the importance of the learnings they acquire during the two-day workshop which they will surely treasure and use in improving their school publication for the benefit of the students and the community.
Aside from the training team from Apex Mining, ISRI resident manager Engr. Robert Wagtingan also grace the closing ceremonies and assisted Mayor Waclin, Baldo and See in the distribution of certificates of participation to the campus journalists. By HENT
