Journalism training course draws unexpected response

TANJUNG ARU – A journalism training course drew unexpected response from Catholic writers here on 10-11 Dec 2016.

Initially limited to 30 participants, 38 turned up for the course held at St Thomas Catechetical Centre, Stella Maris Tanjung Aru.

The participants, representing a variety of organisations,  came from Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Limbahau, Kiulu, Tanjung Aru, Tuaran, Terawi, Telupid and Telupid.

The facilitators were drawn from members of the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocesan Social Communications Commission (SOCCOM) on a voluntary basis.

Msgr Primus Jouil, pastor of Stella Maris, welcomed the participants after the opening prayer.

There were eight inputs (1) SOCCOM Mission & Role of Catholic Writers; (2) News Writing; (3) Sources of News; (4) Photography & Caption Writing; (5) How to Conduct News Interview; (6) Catholic Sabah; (7) Archdiocesan Website; (8) How to Deal with Non-Catholic Media.

Two practical workshops were conducted (a) How to Write a News Article (b) News Writing based on Mock Interview with a review after each workshop.  The last session was a summary of the flow of the two-day course.

Many of the participants expressed their satisfaction with the course, happy to be given the opportunity to upgrade their writing skills so that they could contribute better articles and photographs to Catholic Sabah and other media outlets.

Archbishop John Wong came on the final day to celebrate the concluding Eucharist and to give out the certificates of attendance to the participants.

In his brief address, he introduced them to St Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists and advised them to read up on his life.

The prelate also thanked hosting parish Stella Maris for providing the venue, meals and the facilities for the course.