MCO conducts news-writing workshop

The Marketing and Communications Office (MCO) of Far Eastern University (FEU) conducted a workshop for writers from the FEU Group of Schools, with the aim of refining their news writing skills. The initiative emphasizes FEU’s unwavering commitment to promoting clear, timely, and impactful communication.

Participants came from FEU High School, FEU Roosevelt Rodriguez, FEU Roosevelt Tertiary Education Division and Graduate School of Education, and FEU Manila.

Dr. Norberto Bana, III facilitated the lecture, covering essential topics for news writing style, structure, and techniques. This news-writing workshop served as a refresher for the participants, allowing them to revisit journalism principles, also enhancing their writing techniques.

For FEU MCO, the focus extended beyond equipping their writers with enhanced news-writing skills as it also aligned with FEU News’ commitment to effective communication in the FEU Group.

The lecture started with headlining, where Dr. Bana emphasized the importance of concise and impactful headlines that capture the essence of a news report. He also said headlines should be brief and in the present tense to convey immediacy. The goal is for the reader to know the main point at a glance.

Various types of leads that journalists often use to capture the reader’s attention were also discussed.  Dr. Bana explained that each type serves a specific purpose depending on the category of news being told while also considering the reader's expectations.

Participants were reminded of the importance of using direct quotations from accurate and credible sources.

The lecture also covered the nuances of paraphrasing to ensure clarity and precision without altering the meaning of the original statement.

After the lecture came the workshop. Participants drafted news reports based on their beats or areas of assignment in the FEU Group. The drafts were critiqued, providing constructive feedback on how well the article adhered to the principles discussed earlier.

Some participants said although they have a background in news-writing, the workshop helped them refine their knowledge and skills in developing news reports, proving the workshop to be a learning experience.

Dr. Bana’s combination of lectures and practical exercises left attendees with a deeper understanding of journalistic principles and practice, some said, from crafting strong headlines to highlighting direct quotes and compelling leads.

As the media landscape continues to evolve, the significant practice of clear, concise, and impactful news reporting remains as relevant as ever.