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Earlier, the two-week journalism workshop was inaugurated by Rev. Fr Michael Raj, the Provincial of the Society of St Paul, at SPICE, Mumbai, on 7 May. Fr Joe Eruppakkatt ssp, the Course Director underlined the importance of the apostolic mission of evangelization through the media in the light of the charism of Blessed James Alberoine, the Founder of the Pauline Family, who said “media is a gift of God” and that with the help of the media we “fight evil with good”. He underlined the specific purpose of this writing workshop as “to awaken the writer within” and to recognize the importance of the media apostolate in the Church as the most effective and powerful means of evangelization in the modern world.

This journalism workshop, which was attended by 13 Religious Sisters, five Lay Persons, three Seminarians and three Priests, was dealt under academic, pastoral and spiritual dimensions. The participants felt that it indeed is a challenge to keep writing simple, concise and appealing; to clarify thoughts, to focus on the idea and to touch the readers’ heart. Writing communicates a message in a creative, convincing, clear and energizing way to touch the reader. The workshop included a series of lectures on learning to write, and hands on experience in writing feature articles, news report and analysis of different newspapers and articles. There were pertinent inputs by experts from the media and news agencies. It also included field trips, interview sessions and page designing course. The participatory methodology of the workshop and the mutual support of the participants were strengthened by music, video and attractive power point presentations.

“This workshop encouraged me personally to sharpen my observation and writing skills,” said one participant. SPICE, Mumbai, the media education centre of the Society of St Paul is engaged in conducting several courses in the field of media with academic, pastoral and practical approaches. Its next big project is the one-year PGDC in Journalism from next academic year.

 

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