CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Central Luzon Media Association (CLMA) Pampanga Chapter brought its Campus Journalism Workshop Caravan back to Sindalan Elementary School here on Sept. 16, honing the students’ writing skills ahead of the Division Schools Press Conference.
Some 80 Grade 4 to 6 students took part in the second leg of the caravan, which covered news gathering and writing, editorial and column writing, copyreading and headline writing, feature writing, and editorial cartooning.
“We are preparing students not only for the Division Schools Press Conference but for the larger responsibility of communicating truthfully in their communities. Writing is not just a skill it’s a duty,” noted school principal Daisy M. Arciaga of the workshop’s deeper purpose.
She also reminded them that if they pursue journalism as a career, they must be critical thinkers and observant of issues that matter especially corruption.
Lecture-discussions were led by CLMA chairman emeritus Caesar “Bong” Lacson of Punto! Central Luzon, Master Nelson Gonzales of Pampanga Newsweek and iOrbitNews, and CLMA-Pampanga executive vice president Albert Lacanlale of RW 95.1 FM and SunStar Pampanga.
The first workshop held last August 12 featured Photojournalism with Gonzales and Collaborative Desktop Publishing with Jaypee Manalang of CL Businessweek. “This is more than preparing for contests. Campus journalism trains students to see the world and tell its stories with integrity,” said Donna Mei Sta. Maria, teacher-coordinator of the Special Program in Journalism (SPJ).
Teacher-coaches Boyet Magsino (SPJ Adviser), Jocelyn Gopez, Kathleen Sta. Cruz, Ma. Corazon Nabung, and Jayson Noprado joined in supporting the participants. The next session will cover broadcast journalism with CLMA treasurer Jhen Lumbang Parungao of Balitang-Balita, Gracie Rutao of ABS-CBN, and Luisse Rutao of GMA News.
Since 2022, CLMA Pampanga has held these caravans in schools across the province.
“We want to equip young journalists with the tools, discipline, and courage to tell stories that matter,” said CLMA-Pampanga president Mark Sison of Pampanga Newsweek and BapNews. “Fairness, accuracy, and public trust are the values we want them to carry forward.”
CLMA Pampanga is part of the region’s only organized alliance of active media practitioners, with chapters in Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. CLMA-Pampanga
