I have the opportunity this month to help strengthen the Special Program in Journalism offered by Negros Occidental High School.
I remember also conducting a lecture series for the NOHS Special SPJ students in its early days.
Started in SY 2018-19, the NOHS Special Program in Journalism is the pioneer SPJ among the schools in the 12 divisions in the province of Negros Occidental. The program is headed by a friend, Ana Batisla-on, a nationally-recognized school paper adviser and concurrent head of the NOHS Filipino Department.
We drew up a training design that allowed participants to revisit the fundamentals of news, opinion and feature writing, visual communication while also providing participants with updates on technology-based platforms and strategies.
The training was designed to reinvigorate their knowledge and skills on the very foundations of journalism, above and beyond the vogue of blogging, content creation, and other technology-induced distractions and diversions.
About 100 SPJ students from Grades 7 to 10 as well as staff members of ANG ANINAG and THE REFLECTOR, the two school publications of NOHS, are attending the training, which is being held across three Saturdays this month.
These students are under the mentorship of John Michael Toquero, Kimberly Sta. Rita, Christine Joy Gorriceta and Mercy Grace Lo.
As a journalism practitioner and educator, I find it a heartwarming sharing experience to be asked dozens of questions by learners who are obviously eager to improve their craft. Their questions are not only about theories and techniques. They are equally curious about actual media management and operations.
Assisting me in the August training are veteran broadcaster and educator Agnes Lira-Jundos, Joevel Bartolome, a lawyer and media professional, as well as rising university journalists Kyla Cumawas and Charito Radan, both former NOHS editors.
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I also had the opportunity to share with the program faculty and students my concept for a branding strategy to promote the program and establish its distinct identity.
The branding tool spells out the characteristics of SPJ students by proclaiming the NOHS SPJ as the home of:
S-ocially aware
P-eople-oriented and
J-ustice and Freedom-loving Young Negrenses.
It is my hope that the program identity will heighten the sense of belongingness of participating learners, as they take pride in the service- oriented program they are enrolled in.
I trust that this sense of belongingness and pride will also be developed among students of SPJs later opened in various divisions and across the region and the country, as they embark at an early age of learning the technical Ps and Qs of a media information-focused profession.
As a journalism practitioner and educator in my sunset years, I have great joy realizing that there are young people who are developing their passion to serve people and society and promote truth, justice and freedom.
The journalism baton is obviously in good hands because there are academic programs, like the NOHS SPJ.
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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8) | NWI
