By James Murillo Elaco
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Oro Nexus, the student publication of the City College of Cagayan de Oro, held its first writing workshop on September 20, 2024. This event took place at the South Wing, CCCDO, Zone 2 Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City, and was attended by 11 student-journalists, led by Prof. Jeany Mae Macalam, the moderator of Oro Nexus.
Prof. Macalam stressed the workshop’s main goal: “It’s important for these students to learn the basics of journalistic writing. Before they can effectively be student-journalists, they need to understand the key skills and techniques involved in writing news stories and reports.”
The workshop featured hands-on sessions focusing on important writing skills. Mr. Mark Retes, a feature writer for Oro Nexus, shared his experience. “In the workshop, I learned a lot about news writing. What should you do first when writing a story? The headline needs to catch people’s attention. Also, the words you use shouldn’t be too much or too repetitive. They taught me a technique for writing news called subject-verb-object,” he explained.
Retes emphasized the value of clear writing, saying, “I learned that your headline should be interesting. We also worked on avoiding repeated words. Using the subject-verb-object structure helps readers understand the news quickly.”
Prof. Macalam encouraged the participants to keep improving. “To the pioneering team of Oro Nexus, keep developing your journalism skills.,” she said. “Stay committed to being the voice of the students at City College. Let your words inspire others to appreciate journalism and lift their spirits. Most importantly, enjoy the journey and always follow the ethical guidelines of journalism.”
Prof. Jeany Mae Macalam, moderator of Oro Nexus, discusses the importance of student journalists mastering the fundamentals of writing for effective storytelling and reporting in their future careers. (JME/ON/CCCDO)
This workshop is an important step for Oro Nexus, helping student journalists grow and promote responsible reporting in the college community. As these young writers continue to develop their skills, they are set to become strong voices for their peers, enriching conversations on campus.
In today’s world, where journalism matters more than ever, the efforts of Oro Nexus to nurture the next generation of writers show the publication’s commitment to quality and integrity in reporting. (JME/ON/CCCDO)
Photo 1: Student journalists at the City College of Cagayan de Oro attend the first writing workshop under the auspices of Oro Nexus headed by Prof. Jeany Mae Macalam, aimed at developing their journalist’s craft and initiating a new breed of writers. (JME/ON/CCCDO)
Photo 2: Prof. Jeany Mae Macalam, moderator of Oro Nexus, discusses the importance of student journalists mastering the fundamentals of writing for effective storytelling and reporting in their future careers. (JME/ON/CCCDO)
