By Samantha Yu
MANILA — School organ The Bridge of Capiz State University-Pilar Satellite Campus recently held a highly successful one-day campus journalism training program that brought together student writers and aspiring journalists for an intensive and enriching learning experience that blended lectures, workshops, and hands-on activities.
The event underscored the growing importance of adapting journalistic practice to the demands of modern media, as participants engaged with seasoned practitioners who shared insights on traditional reporting, mobile journalism, and the rapidly evolving influence of artificial intelligence and social media on news production.
By the end of the program, participants emerged better equipped, more confident, and more aware of the responsibilities that come with being today’s campus journalists.
The program opened from 7:00 to 7:30 a.m. with registration, followed by an on-air prayer and national anthem. Welcome remarks were delivered by Dr. Jennifer P. Benliro, Satellite College Director, while Faith Deocampo presented the rationale of the activity, emphasizing the importance of developing competent and responsible campus journalists in an ever-changing media environment.
The training proper ran from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and featured a series of lectures from experienced media practitioners. Chris John D. Billones led the first session titled “Voice, Vision, Verite: Navigating Radio, Documentary, and Photojournalism,” which highlighted storytelling techniques across multiple platforms and emphasized the importance of authenticity in journalism. Participants were also recognized with certificates following the session.
The second discussion was delivered by Renier D. Dequina, who focused on “Reporting on the Go: The Rise of Mobile Journalism” and “Beyond the Facts: The Art of Feature and Literary Writing.” His talk emphasized how mobile technology has transformed reporting and how feature writing continues to play a vital role in engaging audiences beyond hard news.
Jeanette Joy D. Barcia, MAT, followed with a session on “The Backbone of Campus Journalism: News, Sports and Editorial Writing,” reinforcing the essential skills required in newsroom writing and the importance of maintaining strong journalistic standards.
Each session was accompanied by certificate awarding, highlighting participants’ active involvement.
During the working lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., participants were introduced to Ismael A. Amigo Sr., a veteran journalist and public relations practitioner.
Amigo delivered a thought-provoking discussion on journalism in the age of artificial intelligence and social media, emphasizing how rapidly evolving technologies are reshaping the media landscape.
He stressed the importance of adaptability, fact-checking, and ethical responsibility as journalists face the challenges of AI-generated content and fast-paced social media news cycles.
The afternoon workshop from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. allowed participants to apply what they had learned through practical exercises in news writing, editorial writing, sports writing, feature writing, and literary writing.
The session also included documentation activities such as photojournalism, mobile journalism, and documentary production, providing hands-on experience in multimedia storytelling.
The program concluded from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. with the presentation of outputs, awarding of certificates, and closing remarks delivered by Ms. Crystal Gayle G. Anoche, program organizer and Publication Adviser of The Bridge.
A final wrapping-up session ended the day-long training at 5:30 p.m., formally closing a productive and meaningful event.
Overall, the program successfully strengthened participants’ journalism skills while equipping them with the knowledge and adaptability needed to navigate both traditional and digital media landscapes in the modern era.
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