What competencies should a journalist have?

Answers surfaced as university lecturers and trainers from major journalism training institutions in Timor Leste discussed journalism curriculum planning on April 27-28 in a workshop held in Dili, Timor Leste.

The main resource person/facilitator was AIJC president  Ramon R. Tuazon.  Until recently, he was Consultant and Liaison Officer to the Philippines of UNESCO Office Jakarta.

The Workshop on Journalism Curriculum Planning for University Lecturers and Training Institutions was organized by the Timor Leste Media Development Center (TLMDC) in coordination with the National University of Timor Leste (NUTL) and with support from UNESCO Office Jakarta.

The workshop was geared for understanding  the new paradigm of outcome-based education (OBE), particularly competency-based curriculum planning. This new paradigm is expected to provide journalism teachers and trainers a new framework in reviewing and revising the existing Social Communication curriculum of the NUTL and in preparing training programs for the various training institutions in the country, mostly media NGOs. The workshop also provided an opportunity to reorient the participants on the UNESCO Model Curricula for Journalism Education, including the core competencies listed in the document and the Tartu Declaration Competency Goals.

Among the major outputs of the workshop was a listing of desired or needed basic competencies of East Timorese journalists. The list was prepared by journalist-participants and journalism teacher-participants.

Some things in the local media scene are just getting better. And more exciting.

This was proven once again as members of the community press nationwide vied for the  2011 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards in  six categories for the weeklies and the dailies. Awarding ceremonies were held on April 24, 2012 at the Traders Hotel Manila.

Best Edited Community Newspaper awards went to the Mabuhay (Luzon-weekly) and  Sun.Star Cebu (Visayas-daily).

Other winners for 2011 are: The Mindanao Cross and Sun.Star Davao – Best Editorial Page; Edge Davao and Sun.Star Davao – Best in Business and Economic Reporting; Baguio Midland Courier and Sun.Star Pampanga – Best in Science and Environmental Reporting; Baguio Midland Courier and Sun.Star Cebu – Best in Culture and Arts Reporting; and Mabuhay and Sun.Star Davao – Best in Photojournalism.

The Awards night was the highlight of the 16th National Press Forum of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI).  With the theme Media Accountability and Public Engagement, the Forum was the venue for PPI members from across the country to discuss responsible practice, safety and welfare of journalists, and protection of press freedom and democracy, among others.

Major partners of PPI were The Coca-Cola Export Corporation and Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication which served as Awards Secretariat.

The issue of climate change is getting hotter as more organizations address the problem.

The Philippine League of Local Environment and Natural Resources Officers, Inc. (PLLENRO) has partnered with AIJC for training on presentation skills, audiovisual presentations, and PowerPoint preparation and presentation.

PLLENRO is a frontline NGO dedicated to build the capacity of LGUs in developing the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories and formulating GHG management plans, in partnership with the Climate Change and Clean Energy Project (CEnergy).

AIJC is assisting CEnergy and PLLENRO in conducting the Regional Workshop on GHG Inventory which is part of the Asia Clean Energy Forum on June 4, 2012 and the PLLENRO Annual Convention on August 8-10, 2012.

The Kingdom of Bhutan sent two specialists from the Ministry of Health to undergo training by AIJC on health promotion planning using Communication for Development (C4D) as strategy, June 4-15, 2012.

Mr. Leki Dorji, communication supervisor, and Mr. Tashi Tshering, Assistant Information and Media Officer, participated in workshops on the C4D framework, national health promotion strategy planning using C4D, media relations, and capacity development during the 12-day study tour. They also went on field visits to the Department of Health (DOH), UP National Telehealth Center and GMA Network.

The training culminated in the preparation of a draft health promotion strategy plan for implementation in Bhutan.

AIJC communication consultant, Dr. Ofelia Valdecañas, served as key training facilitator and resource person. Other resource persons were Shell Pilipinas communication manager Ronald Jabal, UNICEF communication specialists Kathleen Solis and Michael Gnilo, DOH health education and promotion officer Rose Aguirre, GMA Network community relations head Rod Cornejo, and Inquirer health news correspondent Tessa Salazar.

Resource persons from AIJC include president Ramon Tuazon and directors Ann Lourdes Lopez and Florjannelle Tolentino.

The AIJC Graduate School welcomes the first term of school year 2012-2013 with six new students. A total of 20 students are enrolled for this term.

We welcome the following new students: customer sales representative and freelance graphic artist Eunice D. Olivo, ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Gretchen Malalad, Philippine Information Agency research assistant Angelito P. Bautista Jr., Batangas State University faculty member Heidi Baraan, TV Style video production coordinator Mariko Ishida, and Commission on Human Rights training specialist Epifania Garay.

Schedule of classes and mentors for the 1st Trimester (June 11 to September 15, 2012) are as follows: Communication Issues – Prof. Nilo A. Yacat, Media and Communication Advisor, University Research Co.; Knowledge Management – Dr. Madz Quiamco

Dean, AIJC; News Development Techniques – Prof. Norberto Bana, Overall Online Head, Philstar.com and Director, Institute of Communication, Colegio de San Juan de Letran; Information and Communication Technology Planning – Ramon R. Tuazon, AIJC president; Cross-Cultural Communication – Dr. Paz Diaz, VP for Academic Affairs, Roosevelt College Systems and former Dean, UP Open University; Photojournalism – Prof. Johnny Goloyugo, former International Rice Research Institute specialist.