Peter Gonsalves, SDB, former dean of the Social Communications Faculty at the Salesian University Rome and founder of Tejprasarini, inaugurated the workshop, while Fr C.M. Paul, SDB, Vice-principal of Salesian College Sonada, Darjeeling, and Director of Radio Salesian 90.8 FM, gave the keynote address.
The workshop marking the 25 years of BOSCOM South Asia featured 60% theory and 40% practical sessions in news gathering, news reporting, and news photography with the support of a panel of industry professionals.
Some of the resource persons included veteran journalist and former “Times of India” assistant editor Mr Ashley D’Mello; “All India” Radio’s RJ, Bosco Rodrigues; Mr Philip Varghese, City Editor of Afternoon tabloid; Digital Photography, by Brian Martins, CEO of Photomartins; Fr Christopher George, Admin of Don Bosco College Kurla; BIS Copy Editor, Mrs Karen Laurie, from Canada.
In presenting the Salesian Social Communication System, Regional Director of BOSCOM South Asia, Fr Joaquim Fernandes, introduced the multi-faceted program and invited the participants to “be aware that we are creators, contributors and consumers in the ever-evolving ‘digital continent’ which is the ‘virtual playground’.”
He added, “What we write and post is out there for the entire world to see, since the Don Bosco Society is a mammoth network active in 133 countries.”
Into its third year, the annual Don Bosco Media Workshop “trains Salesian priests and brothers, as well as young people, teachers and lay collaborators in citizen journalism,” says Fr Fernandes, director of Tejprasarini communication centre Matunga.
“The idea [of the workshop] is to study the Pope’s World Communication Day message and synergise all stakeholders of the Salesian mission in citizen journalism, and get them to report the voices from the grassroots so that the Social Communication department of the province can act as agents of change and synergy,” says Fr Fernandes who brought together 70 plus participants including 10 third-year students enrolled in the Bachelor in Mass Media program from Don Bosco College Kurla, along with 3 faculty members.
Fr Fernandes adds, “the Bombay Salesian province is the only province among 12 provinces in South Asia which has had a full-fledged BIS office for almost 10 years with a full-time paid copy editor since 4 years.”
He is quick to highlight the achievements of one of the participants of the first batch, namely Methab Shinde of Don Bosco School Yerwada Pune, a regular BIS reporter.
“I am now aware of fake news and what I have to do as a first time BIS reporter,” says Computer education teacher Mr Harshad Parmar of Don Bosco School Dakor, Gujarat.
The Senior participant at the workshop, 18 years Headmistress of Don Bosco Primary School Matunga, Mrs Winnifred Fernandes of Wadala, attributes her reason for joining the workshop by saying, “I was fascinated by the topic of the workshop poster my husband was designing and I signed up.”
Don Bosco College Kurla Bachelor of Mass Media third-year student, Mr Carlton Borges, from Kalyan, enjoyed “the interactive sessions as well as practical sessions which taught interview techniques and basics of digital photography.”
The participants also visited the BIS office as well as Tejprasarini studios.
Source: Matters India
https://www.infoans.org/en/sezioni-eventi/item/5960-india-the-workshop-marking-25-years-of-boscom-south-asia#sigProIdc43ef1da27
