LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA- Forty-six local media practitioners from Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal and Quezon participated in the first ever science journalism seminar of the Department of Science and Technology- CALABARZON Region (DOST IV-A) held recently at the Harana Pavilion of Splash Mountain Resort in Los Baños, Laguna.

Dubbed Media and S&T Convergence: Effective News Reporting, the seminar aims to enhance the quality and maximize the number of S&T news that circulates in Region IV-A and other neighboring provinces by fuelling local and regional media with core knowledge in disseminating S&T information.

“We are aware that many science journalists do not have degrees in the scientific disciplines they cover,” said DOST Assistant Secretary Raymund Liboro in his opening message, delivered by Dr. Aristotle Carandang, chief of the Communication Resources and Production Division of DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute (STII).

“Regardless of background, though, it is always a good practice for all science journalists to formulate and answer deceptively simple questions such as ‘What does this mean to Mang Juan and Aling Maria?,’ because they can go a long way in developing useful materials for their respective readers,” Liboro stated in his message.

According to Dr. Carandang, the state of science journalism is gloomy not only in the Philippines, but also around the world.  “Science is actually called a ‘dead beat’ because it doesn’t really sell,” said Dr. Carandang. “There is a tremendous decrease in number of science journalists today, especially in traditional media, and we have to address it immediately. There is a need to unleash the science journalism in us, and with the help of our resource speakers, we’ll know what to do,” he added.  

Meanwhile, GMA News Online SciTech Editor Timothy James Dimacali reminded the audience not to be afraid to ask questions when writing their story, and to consider the basics in journalism for people to easily grasp their report.

In addition, Philippine Science Journalists Association and AGHAM, Inc. President Angelo B. Palmones mentioned that if S&T consciousness could reach the grassroots, the process of development could be achieved.

DZRB  news reporter and broadcast journalist Melly Tenorio, on the other hand, discussed how media frames science news, and the difference of science reporting for broadcast and print media.

Subsequent to the event was the election of new officers for DOST-CALABARZON’s Tambuli Media Network which is expected to expand the number of readers, listeners, and viewers of DOST’s S&T news.

The newly elected officers are: Zen Trinidad of Philippine News Agency IV-A (President); publisher Marie Grace Managa (Vice President); Josephine Escovidal of MAGIC Media Against Graft Illegalities Corruption Expose News (Secretary); Francia Orlain of Cavite Times Journal (Assistant Secretary); Ester Catalan of DZJV 1458 (Treasurer); Rebecca Velasquez of Pulso Cavitenyo (Assistant Treasurer); Rommel Madrigal of Balitang Pinoy, Saksi, and Bomba (Auditor); Daniel Castro of DZJV 1458 (Business Manager); and Guillermo Victoria of Southern Luzon Newstar (Sergeant-at-Arms).

“I hope that each of you will continue to be our partners in propagating science and technology information to the public. Likewise, we guarantee to continue providing S&T services to each Filipino,” DOST- CALABARZON Regional Director Dr. Alexander Madrigal concluded.  (By Romelie Janelle Maranan, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

From left: DOST IV-A Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations Dr. Lydia S. Manguiat, GMA News Online SciTech Editor Timothy James Dimacali, news reporter and DZRB broadcast journalist Melly C. Tenorio, Chief of the Communication Resources and Production Division (CRPD) of DOST-STII Dr. Aristotle Carandang, Philippine Science Journalists Association and AGHAM, Inc. President Angelo B. Palmones, and the master of ceremony Juan Carlos Manas during the Science Journalism Seminar of DOST  IV-A.

The newly elected Tambuli Media Network officers of DOST IV-A with DOST IV-A Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations Dr. Lydia S. Manguiat (2nd from left), DOST IV-A Regional Director Dr. Alexander R. Madrigal and DOST-STII CRPD Chief Dr. Aristotle Carandang (5th and 6th from left).

Philippine Science Journalists Association and AGHAM, Inc. President Angelo B. Palmones speaks to DOST IV-A’s Science Journalism Seminar participants composed of different local media around CALABARZON. (Photos by Ceajay N. Valerio)