Toronto Pinoy media in journalism seminars

Toronto Pinoy media in journalism seminars

Seminar certificate recipients (back, fr. Left) Jonathan Canchela, Veronica Cusi, Hermie Garcia, Mila Astorga-Garcia, Susana and Ernesto Donan with (seated) Professor Emeritus Dr. Ralph Izard and wife Janet (Not in photo: Paulina Corpuz and Rolly Cabrera)

By Mila Astorga-Garcia

TORONTO–Filipino-Canadian journalists were among the participants in the three-day 2013 Professional Development Conference and Training Seminars in Journalism, held Dec. 6-8, 2013 at Seneca College, Markham Campus.

The conference and seminars were organized by the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC), an organization of over 600 members from all over Canada, representing media organizations of various cultural backgrounds, in collaboration with Seneca College.  It was attended by over 150 participants from different provinces in Canada.

Various journalism and journalism-related courses were included in the curriculum, conducted by top journalism practitioners and academicians from Ryerson University, Seneca College, and the University of Ohio.

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath

Among the topics covered were editorial and journalistic authenticity, accountability and transparency; the law of defamation; professional writing, interview skills and best practices; the fundamentals of news reporting; the art of effective business networking; the importance of social media in the business of journalism; and leveraging cultural diversity into effective business strategy and opportunity.

Among the speakers and course instructors were Donna Messer, president of ConnectUs Canada; April Lindgren, Canadian Ethnic Community Media Specialist, Associate Professor of Ryerson University’s School of Journalism; Dr. George Andrew Gekas, Associate Professor of Business Administration, Ryerson University; Dr. Gabriel Huston, Professor, School of International Business, Seneca College; Paula Todd, lawyer, leading national author, journalist advocate for justice and professor, School of Media and Marketing, Seneca and York University; Barbara Caines, Senior Canadian broadcast journalist and media leader, and coordinator/professor, School of Media and Marketing, Seneca College; Dr. Ralph Izard, Professor Emeritus, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University, and the Manship School of Mass Communication, Louisiana State University; Robbin Potter, professor, School of English and Liberal Studies, Seneca College; Byron G. Tobar, Professor School of International Business, Seneca College; Sun-Kyung (Sunny) Yi, program coordinator/professor, Documentary Filmmaking Institute, Seneca College; and Hamza Khan, Digital Strategist  Professor, Seneca College.

Immigration Minister Chris Alexander

Among the Filipino-Canadian participants of the conference and journalism seminars were Jonathan Canchela; Paulina Corpuz; Veronica Silva Cusi; Rollie Cabrera; Hermie Garcia; and Mila Astorga-Garcia. They all received the Seneca Certificate of Achievement “upon successful completion of intensive Professional Development and Training Seminars in Journalism and Business” signed by David Agnew, President of Seneca College; Hon. Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages; and Thomas S. Saras, President & CEO, National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada.

The Professional Development Conference and Seminars, is the 2nd held by NEPMCC and Seneca, was financially assisted by the Department of Canadian Heritage and TD Financial Group.

MP Jim Karygianis

With Michael Chan, Ontario Tourism Minister and MP Olivia Chow.

Paula Todd, veteran journalist, lawyer, advocate for justice and author of the book “Finding Homolka”, lectures on libel and defamation at the Ethnic Press journalism seminar Dec. 7.