by Samantha Macabit || Photo Credit: Joshua Sudario

To capacitate the skills of selected Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas Campus (PSHS-EVC) student journalists, The Science Net and Ang Pukot kicked off the first day of training-workshop series, November 18. 

Jenette Fariola-Ruedas, former reporter of ABS-CBN News and current information officer of Region 8’s Commission on Elections, tackled the rules and elements of news writing. 

“The words that you will use to tell a story affects what your audience will think and feel,” Fariola-Ruedas said.

On the other hand, Ed Tiquen, a photojournalist for the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Regional Office VIII, handled EVC’s photojournalists.

Tiquen said you cannot appreciate a story without photos, highlighting the importance of the photojournalists as they take photo documentation in all kinds of events. 

Ronald O. Reyes, a veteran journalist and educator, and 2015’s Outstanding School Paper Adviser in Leyte, was the chosen speaker for Editorial Writing and Column Writing. 

“You owe it to your readers, as you become their eyes and ears, so make sure you do your job as part of the publication,” Reyes said.

The training was organized by publication advisers, Jerry Serdeña of The Science Net and Darry Mae Portillo of An Pukot. 

Scholars in News Writing, Editorial Writing, and Photojournalism, are selected to be part of the first day. Meanwhile those in Editorial Cartooning, Sports Writing, Feature Writing, Science and Technology Writing, Online Publishing, and Collaborative Desktop Publishing, and Radio Broadcasting are set to take part on the second day, November 27. 

The second phase of the training is expected to happen every Friday in January 2024, where the periods of universal break will be used to prepare the student journos for contests in campus journalism, such as the Area Schools Press Conference.