By Aslen G. Caharop
| Hundreds of participants attend Day 1 of Journ Talk Seires 2025.
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The Courier, the official student of CAPSU Mambusao Satellite College, took part in Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) Journ Talk Series 2025 (Campus Journalism Webinar Series) college edition, held from October 1 to 3 via Zoom, which brought together young campus journalists from across Western Visayas to sharpen their skills and deepen their role as frontline communicators.
The Courier Publication was represented throughout the three-day event, beginning on Day 1 with Kin F. Sabala, Rigel Kent D. Delfin, and Lea F. Olino.
The opening day featured a keynote message from PIA Director General Katherine Chloe S. De Castro on the theme “Leveraging Campus Journalists as Frontline Communicators for Disaster Resilience.”
It also offered specialized sessions on news writing by veteran journalist Inday Espina-Varona and feature writing by physician-public health specialist and Rappler contributor Dr. Vicente “Vic” Salas.
On Day 2, Sabala was joined by Matthew Allan Miguel S. Toledo and Charlene L. Arendaying.
The sessions zeroed in on core editorial skills such as editorial cartooning, editorial and column writing, copyreading and headlining, and sports writing.
Day 3 capped the series with the participation of Sabala, Angelo L. Andrada, and Aslen G. Caharop.
Veteran communicators Mrs. Agnes Lira-Jundos, Mr. Dev Albao, Mr. John Glen Teorima, and Mr. Gad Castro shared insights on broadcasting, science and health writing, photojournalism, e-publication, layout and design, and collaborative publication.
The three-day training reinforced the importance of campus journalism in promoting disaster resilience and building public awareness, especially in times of crisis.
As a four-year participant of the PJTS, EIC Sabala reflected on how the series has honed his craft and strengthened his values as a student journalist.
"Throughout these years, the PIA Journalism Talk Series has been a stepping stone that nurtured my craft in writing and deepened my understanding of the bigger role of journalism in our lives as students and as future professionals. It reminds me that journalism is not only about producing stories; it is also about truth-telling, responsibility, and empowering communities with timely and accurate information,” Sabala shared.
Looking back on his last appearance at the annual Journ Talk, Sabala expressed deep gratitude for his experiences and highlighted the significance of guiding the next generation of storytellers.
“As I join this year’s Journ Talk for the last time, I feel a mix of nostalgia and gratitude. It is high time for me, not just to learn, but also to share what I have gained from PIA with the next generation of truth-bearers, especially those who are now part of The Courier. I believe that passing on this knowledge is one of the best ways to honor what the PIA has imparted to me," he added.
The Journ Talk Series 2025 concluded with a reaffirmation of PIA’s mission to mold campus journalists into responsible communicators who are not only storytellers but also partners in nation-building and disaster resilience.
For The Courier and its young writers, the lessons from the series will continue to echo beyond the newsroom—fueling their mission to deliver what truly matters.