Probe Media Foundation, Inc. conducted a workshop on Citizen Journalism & TV Production among selected junior and senior Mass Communication students of Silliman University last July 23 to 25.{{more}}
The training, which took place for the first time in Dumaguete City, focused on the basics of TV Production with the Millennium Development Goals as the framework.
The MDGs are eight time-bound goals, set by member states of the United Nations which address global concerns such as poverty and hunger, universal education, gender equality, child health, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability, and global partnership between First and Third World countries.
Included during the workshop were discussions on journalism ethics, and lectures on how to use modern technology in producing MDG stories for broadcast.
By the end of the workshop, participants were given the chance to do hands-on exercises on filming and editing to create a three-minute news story. The stories were then screened and critiqued by the Probe Media producers led by Booma Cruz, and the College of Mass Communication faculty.
The workshop was a part of Probe Media’s advocacy to train future media practitioners on responsible journalism. It was also a build-up to the Probe and the UN Millennium Campaign’s Search for the Philippines’ MDG Warriors student competition to be held in September 2010.
SU College of Mass Communication Dean Dr. Ma. Cecilia M. Genove said this particular workshop was one of Probe’s community outreach programs where they went all over the Philippines–Dumaguete included–to teach techniques on video production, but zeroing in on the MDGs.
Hyacinth Ann D. Antonio, a junior Mass Communication student, said the workshop became an eye-opener for a budding media practitioner like her. “I realized that my future job isn’t at all easy. But if I want to be an expert in the TV production field like the Probe Team, I have to have the heart and willingness to learn…and that’s exactly what I learned in the workshop.”
“We definitely learned more things that we could add to the things we’ve already learned in our classes,” said Hannah Leah M. Pa-a, a senior. “I think this workshop came in real handy especially for graduating students like me who are considering on taking a chance on the TV production industry.”
Probe Media is a non-stock, non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of media in the Philippines and Asia-Pacific through training of professional and aspiring media practitioners.
The workshop was organized in partnership with Probe Productions Inc., an independent TV production company in the country, best known for pioneering the investigative news-magazine format on Philippine television through the show Probe. (Jeahan Virda De Barras)