by JE GONZALBO
Far Eastern Private School organized a 2-day campus journalism training workshop for selected students to start the campus official paper and encourage young leaders and writers to develop their talent in sharing information by writing and reporting in lined with one of the school’s main goals.
Being a student journalist is not just about struggling because of the number of articles you have to write every semester, or interviewing just about any person in school and featuring them in the news, however, you like, or attending every school event from the exact moment it started until the program has eventually finished. No, it’s actually more than that – it’s also being responsible for what kind of ideas you relay to your audience, as well as who you become as an independent and dedicated news writer and reporter worthy of bringing freedom to the press.
Through the 2021 Campus Journalism Workshop seminar organized by Sir Jeffrey Maraviles which was held from 14th-15th of November, all the recruited members of the school paper were taught and trained, do specific roles, tasks, as well as their responsibilities as student journalists.
I could still remember the first moment I stepped in the school activity room where the workshop was held. At first, I was slightly shocked when I knew that there were at least twenty other attendees, half of them are my classmates, and the other half, people from other class sections whom I barely recognized. There, a few armchairs were occupied by the other students while my classmates and I sat and formed a semi-circle around a huge wooden desk that was, embarrassingly, almost too high for us to reach. We were expected to be all-eyes-and-ears on our training, eagerly give our full attention (bad example).
On the first day, we were all sitting down – of course, appropriately distanced from each other – when Sir Jeff, the FEPSian Torch supervisor and facilitator of our workshop, finally entered. Unfortunately, we were all met with a disappointed look because all of us did not come on time as scheduled. With this, he stated how one of the most important qualities a journalist should possess is punctuality.
The seminar soon began with his introduction of the workshop and its objectives and aims, giving us a brief explanation of the advantages and responsibilities of being part of the school newspaper. Of course, hearing the perks of being a student journalist excite us being typical junior high students. The room was filled with claps and cheers as all of our names were called out along with our assigned positions in the Torch. Indeed, it is an honor to be a part of the school newspaper!
Afterwards, we proceeded to discuss about the structures of the school paper, as well as the different sections, leads, techniques, and rules in journalism writing. Although we had submitted our own entries before joining the Torch, I knew that I, along with my fellow journalists were still clueless of how to properly write an effective and timely article depending on its section, as well as how the school paper was arranged and produced. Through the help of our supervisor, we were also given the opportunity to practice our skills by completing a couple of challenging exercises.
“we were able to develop our leadership skills, to engage in our own personal and professional growth, and to practice hands-on journalism and our media skills”
– Je
Came the second day, we were all prepared unlike previously. The entire editorial team brought their own laptops, and I couldn’t help but feel more motivated to be part of the Torch because of the professionalism that seemed to exude from the atmosphere in the activity room. However, I was somehow proven wrong, a few minutes later, when the room burst into fits of laughter when Sir Jeff started the seminar once again. We all knew each other’s names by then, joyfully ready to be assigned for the task delegation.
Overall, the successful two-day journalism workshop led by Sir Jeff went smoothly. It was a great and fun experience to be able to learn the different and important parts of the school newspaper. Journalism might not have been my first choice, but it now surely is my second – and not just because we learned how to properly write, plan, and design the school paper, but because we were able to develop our leadership skills, to engage in our own personal and professional growth, and to practice hands-on journalism and our media skills.
Not only were we, as student journalists, inculcated to be independent and hardworking members of the student publication unit through the workshop, but also, trained to rightfully expose our school through creating a positive impact and impression to our audience as great stewards of the press.