The training is initiated by the Local Governance Support Program (LGSP) under the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Thirty reporters and broadcast communication students will participate in the seminar-workshop dubbed “Voters Education on Good Governance and Sustainable Peace and Development.”
Cindy Fair, field program manager of the LGSP in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said their objective is to enable broadcast journalists to produce and air value messages that promote and popularize the concepts of peace and good governance as run-up to the May 14 national and local elections.
“We recognize the role of mass media networks, particularly radio as effective channels of disseminating value messages in culturally-sensitive ways. We also hope to tap ARMM-based radio stations and broadcasters to produce value spots in relation to the forthcoming May 14 elections,” Fair said in a press statement.
Also present during the workshop-seminar are religious leaders and Community Services Officers who would discuss how to develop the content and context of the value messages.
Broadcast journalists Malu Cadeliña-Manar, program director of radio station DXND-Kidapawan, will discuss production research.
The LGSP and its facilitators will also introduce short modular courses on scriptwriting, production management, executive production for radio, acting and directing for radio.
The LGSP granted 12 slots to the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC) while the 18 remaining slots were divided for other networks and broadcast communication students all over Mindanao.
Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC) chief executive officer Fr. Ignacio Rellin OMI said the seminar-workshop would be beneficial to the listeners especially in educating them in choosing the right leaders.
The NDBC has adopted the six paths to peace in all areas of programming and has been producing “peace” spots aired over five NDBC stations in Southwestern Mindanao.
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate owns and operates radio stations DXND-AM and DXDM-FM in Kidapawan City, DXMS-AM and DXOL-FM in Cotabato City and DXOM-FM in Koronadal City.
Some 34 radio station-affiliates all over the country have adopted the peace spots produced by NDBC stations. (Williamor A. Magbanua/MindaNews)