MANILA, Philippines鈥擲easoned journalists from all over the country lent their expertise during the 16th annual Inkblots at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex inside the University of Santo Tomas main campus in Manila.
Inkblots is a National Campus Journalism Fellowship hosted by The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the UST. It was held from December 1 to 3.
The three-day event consisted of several seminars featuring the leading journalists in the country, where they shared their expertise with aspiring journalists.
Changing media landscape
GMA news anchor Mike Enriquez acknowledged the rapidly changing environment facing young journalists.
鈥淟ife in media is very difficult and very competitive,鈥� said Enriquez, adding that the world today is fast, furious, intense and full of challenges.
鈥淭here are (still) many opportunities to do bad and to do good,鈥� Enriquez told the students, adding, 鈥淵ou can do good and still do good business.鈥�
Online journalism
黑料社 editor-in-chief John Nery shared the ins and outs of online journalism.
Nery engaged the journalism students in an interactive manner, demonstrating live how news stories from reporters get published on 黑料社 while inviting questions from the students throughout the presentation.
Using an article about a recent eSports tournament won by overseas Filipinos, Nery showed the step by step process how an article makes its way to the news website, explaining tagging and other steps unique to online publishing.
鈥淭he moment you click 鈥榩ublish鈥�, it鈥檚 out there,鈥� Nery said.
When asked about how the comment section is being moderated and how to deal with online criticisms, he answered, 鈥淭here are no two ways around it, we journalists just have to develop a thick skin. It鈥檚(Online journalism) like the Wild West.鈥�
Felipe Salvosa II refreshed the students鈥� memory on the basic tenets of news writing. He discussed in length the inverted pyramid, the 鈥淲ho, What, When, Where, Why and How鈥� as well as dealing with sources and the rules of attribution.
Salvosa, who previously served as editor for BusinessWorld, is now working as Philippine researcher for the Financial Times.
Catholic journalism
Befitting of its status as the only Pontifical University in the Philippines, the next Inkblots seminar consisted of three panel speakers discussing Catholic journalism as a means to evangelize and espouse Christian values.
The panel was composed of Joey Villarama, a radio producer for TV5, Fr. Nick Lalog, a former radio-television reporter, and Atty. Jose Sison, who lent his legal expertise to the panel.
All three addressed the students鈥� questions on the multiple issues confronting Catholic journalism.
Mock press con with Beermen
Arguably the most anticipated speaker of the day was celebrated sports journalist Quinito 鈥淭he Dean鈥� Henson.
The attendees erupted in wild applause when Henson confirmed San Miguel Beermen coach Leo Austria and reigning MVP for the Philippine Basketball Association June Mar Fajardo鈥檚 presence in the building.
Henson talked about the importance of sports journalism in the Philippine context.
鈥淲e need vibrant sports journalism in campuses,鈥� Henson told the students. 鈥淪ports is pervasive throughout the country.鈥�
He added that sports news carried a lot of impact on the Filipino public.
As an exercise, Henson invited coach Leo Austria and center June Mar Fajardo to the stage as participants in a mock press conference, where the students put forward their questions as if it were an actual post/pre-game interview.
To further motivate the students, Henson offered various sports memorabilia to the winner of the best sports article written on the mock press conference, which included a basketball signed by the San Miguel Beermen, a cap bearing boxer Manny Pacquiao鈥檚 autograph and a towel signed by Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams.
The students asked the panelists some very pointed questions, prompting interesting soundbites such as:
鈥淢as kinakabahan pa ako sa interviews kesa sa game.鈥� 鈥� Fajardo
鈥淏asketball is about chemistry. Isa lang ang bola, bawal pag-agawan.鈥� 鈥� Austria
鈥淢as gusto ko pa na mag-champion kami kaysa mag-MVP lang ako.鈥� 鈥� Fajardo
When asked about Kia鈥檚 playing coach Manny Pacquiao, Coach Leo Austria mentioned that the boxer鈥檚 hoops skills still needed improvement but acknowledges his world-class boxing prowess.
He also playfully quipped that he was thankful that punches are illegal in the PBA.
Following the mock press conference, Quinito Henson lived up to his moniker as 鈥淭he Dean,鈥� as he pored through the students鈥� entries for the winner of the sports writing competition.