On May 11, 2021, The University of Mindanao conducted a forum called "Kaplag Manunulat" that talks about modern perspectives in content writing through digital publishing. Three guest speakers were invited: Berchan Louie Angchay, former military journalist of ABS-CBN; Jomari Valdez, a UM-Multimedia Arts Professor, Sun Star Davao employee; and Ace Perez, a journalist, and digital content editor.
The webinar was indeed a big help to all aspiring media practitioners as different topics and tips were shared by the guest speakers during the said forum. But what intrigues me the most is the topic discussed by Mr Berchan Louie Angchay, which is about the military journalist. Though I know that being a military journalist is a "life-risking" job, according to him, if you are interested and wanted to be a military journalist, you will not think about how dangerous that job is. The military journalist still has the same job to do: gather information and inform people. In this field, Danger is not a hindrance to creating reliable and informative news. Just like other journalists, a good write-up is also a must in this field. Mr. Angchay also shared three best qualities of writing style; 1.) Gathering necessary facts, 2.) Well-structured form of thoughts, and 3.)Verification of thoughts. Yes, credibility is a must.
The internet is a widely used platform nowadays. Thus, print media need some methods to attract more people. The good thing is that print media also goes digital today. Mr. Valdez gave us a lot of tips on how to get the attention of the netizens. One of the vital tips that he gave to us is to "Know your audience" and relate to them if you want to get their attention. Why? Because people want good content. It would be best if you thought about what makes people respond and engage, and of course, avoid misinformation at all costs because this will lead to future problems such as misunderstanding and conflicts. Creating a social media schedule is also a big help because, according to Mr. Valdez, "consistency is a key". Web design also helps you to gain and attract readers. A bland or overly-design web design may lead to readers' loss of interest.
To make good writing content, you must focus on the message of your story because in the world of journalism, the story is the king, and the approach is the queen. This webinar helps us a lot to become better journalists in the future.
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