Elevating campus journalism skills and fostering collaboration, Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU)-Main Campus’ The Industrial Wheel and JCI Tacloban Kankabatok hosted the Basic Campus Journalism Training (BCJT) from November 29 to December 2, bringing together student journalists from school publications across the EVSU system at the ORDEx Studio Room.
The gathering proved to be a melting pot of creativity and learning, uniting the pens and lenses of external campuses, including An Sulog from Burauen Campus, Observer from Ormoc Campus, An Batingaw of EVSU-Tanauan, Talutang from EVSU-Carigara, and newly-installed The Liberator from EVSU-Dulag.
Distinguished figures from the local journalism scene graced the event as resource speakers, offering a wealth of knowledge in various disciplines throughout the four-day activity.
Award-winning coach Dr. Paul Junrey A. Toyong kicked off the series of lectures on Day 1 by shedding light on the intricacies of Sports Writing, providing insights into modern trends in the discipline, and concluding with an engaging writing workshop.
Renowned photojournalist Mr. Ed Tiquen led a captivating session on Photojournalism the following morning, delving into the transformative power of photography to shape perspectives and opinions.
Day 2 trainings continued with afternoon and evening sessions headed by former and current members of IW – with former Associate Editor Ms. Christianne Faith A. Mahinay providing valuable insights into News Writing, former Circulation Editor Mr. Elkanah Torres guiding participants through Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design, and Editor-in-Chief Ton Sierolf N. Cairo sharing his expertise on Online and Multimedia Platform Management.
As the third day unfolded, participating campus journalists further advanced their skill set through discussions on Feature Writing, Radio Broadcasting, Script Writing, and Developmental Writing. Esteemed figures such as Mr. Stephen Esber, Mr. Kevin Siosana, and Ms. Christianne Faith Mahinay delivered lectures in the said fields, respectively.
The final day featured a comprehensive talk on editorial writing basics by Ms. Pearl Ann Jervoso, former technical adviser of The Leytean while JCI Tacloban Kankabatok Chapter President and EVSU-SPO’s Head/Technical Adviser Mr. Rex B. Palompon, concluded the ten-lecture event with a discussion on SPO Administration and Management Directory, providing tips to fellow technical advisers on maximizing work efficiency in their respective campus publications.
Ms. Yona Salvacion from Talutang (Carigara Campus) shared that her expectations for the event were met, and the knowledge gained from the training has sparked her interest in exploring areas beyond her usual comfort zone.
“I don’t just want to participate in writing, but also in other fields, especially in Radio Broadcasting,” Ms. Salvacion added.
To formally conclude the event, Mr. Agustino Rico Jr., Managing Editor of IW, left the campus journalists with a poignant reminder of their responsibilities as members of the press.
“Let’s all uphold the autonomy of student publications to foster a culture of fearless reporting, incorporating the principles of truth, transparency, and accountability,” he stressed.
This year’s edition of BCJT stands as a testament to EVSU-SPO’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of campus journalists, equipping them not just with skills but also with a sense of purpose in serving and giving voice to the EVSUnistas.
Article by Patrick Joseph Dincol