PIA kicks off Basic Journ training in NegOcc

THE 45th year edition of the annual Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-6 Basic Journalism Seminar-Workshop has gathered 273 campus paper writers, editors and school paper advisers from all over the province on September 11 and 12 in Bacolod City.

This, by far has the biggest number of participants for the PIA’s journalism training for the Negros Occidental leg with 61 school publications that participated in this year’s training in partnership with Negros Weekly Inc.

University of St. La Salle-Liceo Ang Berdeng Parola’s editor Yzabela Velez-White, who has attended PIA workshops every year, attributed her growth in the school paper rising from the ranks through the training.

Calatrava National High School school paper adviser Jennifer Tabligan commended the host-organizations PIA and Negros Weekly for holding the training which gave her great learnings in journalism which she is excited to share to her students.

Department of Education-Division of Negros Occidental also sent teacher-members of its official publication Negrense Gazette’s Fahren Blas Bernadas and three others to the training.

“Although I have the skills already, but now, after the training, I am more confident with my writing skills,” Bernadas said when asked for a response during the closing activity of the training.

Topics during the two-day training included Development Communication, Core Principles of Journalism, Writing lectures on News, Feature, Editorial, Science and Technology, Online Journalism and Sports.

Provincial Planning and Development Office chief Dr. Ma. Lina P. Sanogal gave a special topic on the Whole of Nation Approach while Professor Allen del Carmen lectured on Page Design and Lay out, Photojournalism and Copyreading.

The other speakers included PIA6 OIC Regional Head Jaime Cabag Jr. and Training In Charge Leonard Pineda I, Nanette Guadalquiver, Eric Loretizo, Jose Dante Albao Jr., Analita Batisla-on, Nida Buenafe, and Mark Christopher Dueñas.

The annual basic journalism training aims to equip students with the skills and the competence in journalistic writing with focus on development communication. (PIA)