DepEd Caraga enhances journalistic prowess in the campus

“We are going to reclaim our prowess in campus journalism.”

Such was the bold statement of Dr. Isidro M. Biol, Jr., DepEd Caraga’s chief of Curriculum Learning and Management Division (CLMD), delivered during the opening of the 2016 Regional Training of Trainers (RTOT) on Campus Journalism held on September 1-4, 2016 at Regional Education Learning Center (RELC) II, Teacher Development Center, Butuan City.

“It seems that the performance of DepEd Caraga in the field of campus journalism has plateaued for the past three (3) years,” Dr. Biol remarked, in view of the region’s performance in the national scene.

Hence, the CLMD invited four national speakers to facilitate the training. The goal was to further enhance the competence of the school paper advisers and journalism coordinators from the 12 schools divisions in Caraga, seventy two (72) of whom attended. The training, moreover, was done pursuant to Republic Act No. 7079 otherwise known as “An Act Providing for the Development and Promotion of Campus Journalism and for other Purposes.”

Marvin M. Enderes, a nationally-acclaimed campus paper adviser of Collegio de San Agustin of Manila, discussed the principles of effective writing and school paper lay-outing. Mr. Junar P. Lasaca and Mr. Delfin C. Fernandez provided insights on TV scriptwriting and broadcasting.

Moreover, Ms. Anna Marie C. Calapit lectured on feature writing, copy reading, and headline writing. Science and technology writing and editorial writing were facilitated by Mr. Eugenio Sonny O. Calapit.

On the last day of training, Mr. Richard A. Apresto expounded on the essentials of investigative journalism, followed by a workshop on scriptwriting and radio broadcasting, and concluded with simulations of radio broadcasting.

Dr. Biol expected the participants to “elevate the writing prowess of our students” and to take a big leap toward reclaiming the glory of winning the nationals. – Elizalde G. Bernales