On November 08, 2024, Sinukuan Gazette (SG), the official student publication of Pampanga State Agricultural University, conducted its Training-Workshop Session on News Writing and Editorial/Opinion Writing. With the approval of Dr. Karina D. Peña, the BSED English Program Head, 1st Year, 2nd Year, and 3rd Year students from the Bachelor of Secondary Education – English were invited as the participants.
The meeting was facilitated by the Student Publication Unit Head, Prof. Dexter O. Manalo, together with the professors Dr. Karina D. Peña and Prof. Fatima E. Supan from the College of Education in the English Department. With Ma. Antoinette T. Orejas, a writer of the Philippine Daily Inquirer since 1997 and the chair of the Pampanga Press Club, as the esteemed guest and resource speaker, the workshop tackled various discussions about journalism. In particular, the session highlighted editorial functions, parts of a news story, news values, engagement, and writing summary leads, among others.
Ms. Orejas tasked the students to compose four pieces of news stories in varying degrees of length for news, editorial, and column writing, providing constructive criticism and professional insights on each work submitted which was beneficial to the students, particularly on their Campus Journalism subject.
The resource speaker’s talk and sharing of experience served as a significant form of training for aspiring English teachers for their future profession as language educators or as school paper advisers.
This seminar was held at the 2nd Floor of the University Food Center with Ma. Antoinette T. Orejas (Resource Speaker), Prof. Dexter O. Manalo (Student Publication Unit Head), Dr. Karina D. Peña (BSED English Program), Prof. Fatima E. Supan (Coed English Language Education Society Adviser and Subject Teacher in Campus Journalism), student journalists from the Sinukuan Gazette (official school publication of PSAU), and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Year students from the BSED English Program.
By: Vanessa Alisson Cunanan (CELES Vice President for Internal Affairs)
and Princess Vanessa Obero (CELES Secretary)