Matanao hosts the first diocesan writeshop

The Diocese of Digos Commission on Social Communications launches its campaign to organize the diocesan pool of writers and journalists from the different parishes and vicariates. A series of seminar-workshops are in place to help the future journalists to write for the church and evangelize using the social media.

Matanao, Bangkal and Bansalan were tapped to send their prospective journalists from their respective parishes on October the 14th. There were a total of 36 students and teachers who came. Most of them are practicing journalists in their respective schools. This time, they were made to understand that they will be representing their parish as they write. The students were excited to learn that they get to pick what medium to use. The seminar was conducted inside the school auditorium. Fr. Allan Joie Nunez, the Diocesan Director of Social Communications presided a mass before the start of the event.

The morning sessions was started by Dr. Manilee Araune, a SocCom volunteer. She talked about Inter Mirifica and made the participants understand the basis of Social Communications of the Catholic Church and their future roles as Christian press that pursues the spreading of the Gospel by providing correct, honest and accurate news to the whole diocese in general.

The second talk was tackled by Ms. Blaze Cantaros, another SocCom volunteer who talked about Social Media in Today’s Digital Society. This time, the students were made to understand the evolution of media, the different types of mass communications and their roles to play in this media saturated society.

The third talk was about the Ethics & Standards of Journalism: Effects of Fake News and the Life of a Journalist. This was tackled by Mr. Bien Abanos, the Diocesan SocCom Coordinator.

The afternoon sessions were all about Writing. Ms. Blaze Cantaros talked about Editorial writing Versus News Writing. Some old copies of the Davao Catholic Herald were distributed for their analyses. At the end of the session, the participants started to write their own editorials based on the situation given. The next talk was about Feature Writing, Captioning and Chronicling. This was also tackled by Ms. Blaze Cantaros. At the end of the lecture, another writeshop was conducted, this time they wrote feature stories and straight news regarding the actual event they are attending.

At 4PM, everyone settled for Sugid moments over snacks and refreshments. Mr. Bien Abanos took over and introduced the Facebook page of the Diocesan SocCom, Sugid: Diocese of Digos and another Diocesan page for the SocCom journalists, Inter Mirifica in Digos. He also introduced the Davao Catholic Herald and the radio stations DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM. Later, he announced that the next round of seminar workshop will focus on Radio Broadcasting and Photojournalism to the delight of the students. Awarding of certificates followed and they were sent home after Closing Observations. (Blaze Q. Cantaros | Digos SoCCom)

Here’s sharing to you the outputs from the writeshop conducted in Holy Cross of Matanao last October 12. The event was sponsored by the Diocese of Digos Commission on Social Communications:

What is your role in this media – saturated society?

“As a student, I believe my primary role is to become a role model to my fellow youths. God has a way of transforming the society and our role is to execute the things that He want us to do.” – Sunshine Ricaplaza, Holy Cross of Matanao, Gr 11

“My role is simply to become responsible for my actions. We are bombarded with fake news from different media outlets and we need to defeat this problem. To become responsible in giving and in sharing news. I say No to fake news!” – James D. Diamante, Holy Cross of Matanao, Gr 12

“As a student, I must be responsible in using the media. I should think many times before I do things on the internet because in our society today, one wrong move will get everyone judging you.” – Sheena Marie Quinto, Holy Cross of Matanao, Gr 11

“As a student of a Catholic school. My role is to exercise my right to criticize and spread genuine information on the internet and encourage respect as a writer and a reader.” – Jessa Mae De La Cruz, St. Mary’s College of Bansalan

“Each of us are called to actively participate and assume the responsibility to criticize constructively. We are a colony working together to serve our queen the society we live in. Whatever one member does, the rest will be affected. So we must correct the wrong things done by the members in order for us to produce a good product. That’s where our success depends upon.” – Laika Mae Timon, St. Mary’s College in Bansalan

“Youth must become participative and determines what is true from fake news. Today. fake news is all over the media so there’s a call from the youth to show concerned and stand up for what is good.” – Warlie John P. Reynes, Holy Cross of Matanao, Grade 12

“Our role is to make a difference in the social community.” – Ian Rolex Brieta, Holy Cross of Matanao, Gr 8

“Our role is to put media to good use and in positive ways. We connect, make meanings and communicate through different media platforms so we better control it, instead of being controlled.” – Stephanie Nicole Miguello, Holy Cross of Matanao

“Our role is to make a difference in social community.” – Ian Rolex Brieta, Holy Cross of Matanao, Gr 8