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Just like any profession, writing can also be the cause of heartache, headache and breakdown. It’s very frustrating whenever you got lost for words in the middle of an article, no new ideas to start with or have nothing in mind to write about. And so, in being a media writer it is very important to have such skills— a set of necessary tools that will enable you master your craft. Along with these are the qualities you must possess that will surely help you in order to succeed. Of course, it will be very hard at first, but there’s no harm in trying right?

Take mine as your example. If I will be rating myself from 1 as highest and 4 as lowest within these categories under QUALITIES, this will be my answer:

1. Curious or Inquisitive – 3
2. Intelligent – 2
3. Industrious – 2
4. Resourceful – 3
5. Persevering – 2
6. Imaginative – 2
7. Puts premium on accuracy and truth – 3
8. Loves to read – 2
9. Interested in and loves people – 4
10. Service Oriented – 2

As you can see, among all the qualities a media writer must possess, I seriously lack at interest and love with people I encounter, and I must try to enhance it. Why? Because as a media writer, I know it is expected of me to be welcoming with a diverse audience. I will be dealing with different individuals from different walks of life and so I must have the capability to understand and accept their similarities, differences, flaws and unique attributes. Only by having these characteristics I will be able to further understand my purpose and know more stories and narratives.

What keeps me from having the highest point is my perception that I am not that excellent enough. I know things, I’ve done great things before that I believe improved my personality but that will be never enough to make me perfect. Also, I believe that it will always be good to have room for improvement. Through this, I can learn more, realize more ideas that will make me stronger and wiser in the future. Because just like how many describes it, the process is never easy, but it will be worth it.

The list of skills a media writer must have:

1. Gathering data – 2
2. Validating and clarifying information – 3
3. Organizing information – 2
4. Writing clearly and effectively – 3
5. Proficiency in the operation of communication tools/ devices – 4

Among all the skills listed, have developed my skills in gathering data and organizing information. As a former School paper journalist, I am trained to gather information related with my news articles. Whenever I got any assigned article to write I always see to it that I will be able to find every single data that will be helpful with my write-up. Being in our school paper for almost six consecutive years, earning my School Paper Adviser’s trust and gaining position in the Executive Editorial Board, I was able to maintain the skill and further improve it adjusting with circumstances and/or existing dilemmas  that I encounter in events.

I am not really computer literate and so I find it very hard to develop proficiency in the operation of communication tools/devices. Being in a family of five, with my parent’s low income that is just enough with our basic needs, I am not able to have access to the tools necessary with my course. Nevertheless, I am willing to learn them. Being in the course Development Communication, having these skills will enable me to be competent and competitive in my work. That is why, having these skills are very important.

So why would you settle for good, when there will always be a way to improve. You just need to focus, relax and enjoy the process, and even before you know it you are already a master of your field.  

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No one can really say that they were the best, no one can ever say that they were perfect.

Have you ever ask yourselves, “Pangit ba ako? Kapalit-palit ba ako? Then why?”. Kidding aside.

Have you ever wonder of asking this in-front of the mirror? “Am I good enough?”,”Is this really what I am? What I want?” , or ever blamed yourself for not being able to do something? If so, some people tend to question themselves, their capabilities, their skills, even their personalities. Was it wrong? If you over do it, maybe. On the other hand, No, it wasn’t. It is some sort of reflecting on ourselves. A good way of being a critique on our own works and abilities which will later gives us the realization that we need to work on something, that we needed to change something, or even further continue doing something.

“I know that I know nothing”, as my favorite philosopher, Socrates would utter. I have graded my self somewhere in between 1-5 which is 3. If you would ask me why? Is it because using the quotation as my reference, true wisdom is accepting the fact that we cannot attain the head of perfection rather working on ourselves to atleast reach its shoulder. Everyone has something to improve.

As a writer, I think I have to learn a lot of things. I could not give myself a perfect rating, I could only give half of it. Because if I do so, then what is the point of life? What is the essence of education? I just wanted everyone who will read this that If you think you filled your own cup of water then the problem was with your cup, maybe it is too small. Why get used to dreaming small? Throw the small cup get a big one thus it will lead us to bigger dreams, a better version of ourselves.

There are certain qualities and skills one must have to become a Media Writer. And while there is a rare chance of someone being born having all these skills, it is certainly possible that one can improve and maintain these qualities and skills. To be a Media Writer, a person must have the following qualities:

• Curious or inquisitive
• Imaginative
• Puts a premium on accuracy and truth
• Loves to read
• Interested in and loves people
• Service-oriented
• Industrious
• Resourceful
• Intelligent
• Persevering

And if I were to rate myself, I can say with full confidence that I posses the first six qualities mentioned above while the remaining four, especially the latter two, not so much. Among the qualities listed, I feel that I need to work on becoming more persevering because I know that whenever I give up on a certain work or task, it affects the quality of it. My lack of perseverance hinders my time to finish my work or to produce better outputs. This what keeps me from giving myself that 1.00 self-rating since I usually cram and rush my works or tasks. The lack of time I give myself to produce better outputs and develop certain qualities is the reason why I cannot give myself that perfect rating, and I am doing my best to change that.

In terms of skills, a Media Writer should possess the following:

• Validating and clarifying information
• Organizing information
• Gathering data
• Writing clearly and effectively
• Proficiency in the operation of communication tools/devices

The skill that I have developed the highest competency is “Organizing information“. The researches and papers that I wrote in my high school years helped me develop this certain skill as we always had to make sure that the data and information that we gathered are properly organized. The skill that I need to work on the most to develop is “Proficiency in the operation of communication tools/devices” because I am not that much exposed to the various communication tools or devices and I still need to learn how to operate them.

Paper

Crumpled and used

Curious, wishful and mad

I’m ready to take the world’s mess

Prepare

Juan

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I am a kid from San Juan who was always taught that trying hard is never enough. If you really persist of achieving anything you wanted, you must know how to burn midnight oil and how to put your heart in anything you wish to fulfill. I am so young when I was introduced to this kind of living, harsh and strict as what others may describe it, but this ideal had pushed me to dream, to grow and to soar higher than high. This made me realize that I have such passion into song compositions, spoken word poetry, dancing, performing and even writing. And now, this sole truth had brought me to University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) as a freshman student of the College of Development Communication.

I am John Mark De Castro Ayap, an 18 years-old aspirant from the province of Batangas. A former school journalist who had been dreaming of becoming a writer/film director/performer/ and educator ever since I had been awakened by reality that it’s time for me to pursue my greatest desires and to share people my ideas and unheard opinions. Being the slight-outgoing-slight-pessimistic, shy person that I am, reaching the point where I am confident, hopeful and lively is not easy. There are criticisms along the way, words that drag me down. Nevertheless, I always intend to come clean, to show them through my achievements that I am worthy of my dreams, and I may fall back, but I will never surrender. I won’t be fearful anymore.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are talented beyond measure. We ask ourselves who am I to be gorgeous, brilliant, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

Marianne Williamson

As a dreamer, I wish to influence other people to do the same. For my dream is nothing but an empty paper without colors and pen markings from individuals I want to inspire. I wish that someday just how I like my poetries, and my songs, I’ll be able to use them as my weapon gearing others towards freedom, making them see that they are worthy of their dreams, that they are capable if they believe. To create films and stories that will captivate hearts and strengthen minds.  This pen will never stop, will never give up, shall always stroke words and try so hard to produce masterpieces that may somehow change the tiring and static misconceptions of society.

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Amazing, adventurous, artistic, and articulate, these are some of the “A plus” qualities Alexandra Gesmundo, or Alex, is striving to achieve in her life and becoming a Development Communication student is a step forward towards her goals. Ever since she was a child, she knew that being in the Communications field would help her to become the best version of herself. Back then, the little girl would often take videos of herself using her mother’s Nokia phone as if she’s hosting a show or sometimes, she would create stories while playing with her stuffed toys.

Her official path towards Communications began when she decided to compete in her school’s oral speaking competition in pre-school and continued on in elementary. In elementary as well, she began to join workshops on news writing and became a part of the school’s paper as a news writer and was able to compete in the Division Schools Press Conference. Although she didn’t join the school’s paper in high school, she had classes that required her to write various articles from news to features. She also learned to speak confidently to the public by presenting her projects to different panels and students. Recently, she won 2^nd Best Oral Presenter in her school’s Capstone Colloquium and occasionally, she writes poems and short stories as a hobby.

However, her journey to become a Development Communication student wasn’t an easy one. It was filled with questions and hesitations from the people around her. But she knows in her heart that in all of the communication courses offered in the country, it was devcom that best suited her as while she aims to become “A plus”, she also aims to assist and serve the people, especially those who are in need and she knows that being a devcom student will surely let her reach her goals.

We are like stars in the vast universe, waiting to be branded; waiting to be named.

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We all have our brands—each unique and distinguished styles. No two people have the same thumb marks, not even in a billion. We are like stars in the vast universe, waiting to be branded; waiting to be named. With all those, how exactly do I brand myself? Am I a person with astonishing qualities? Am I as interesting as Van Gogh’s Starry Night? Or am I as great as the wall of China (is China even great)?

I guess I’m none of those. I am a lonely song, longing to be played, with tunes and beats highly different than most of the others. I am the old and dusty Greek mythology book that no one takes time to read. If I would be anything great, I would be the Great Wave of Kanagawa—slowly crashing the shore, just washing up various unnecessary things in it. I am a small town dwelling from afar. It takes few people to recognize me for what I do; for what my brand is.

Even so, a lonely song can comfort you whenever you’re down—listen to it and surrender your emotions, cry as much as you want. Oftentimes, someone would pick up the old and dusty Greek mythology book—wanting their imaginations to be filled. There’s no other better company than a good book when you’re alone. After the great waves have crashed the shore, it will always go back to its calmness. I am like our town, Tagkawayan, Quezon, who is yet to discover things, and is yet to be discovered soon.

For now, I only have one brand, and it is my name— Aubrey is my name, a not so very ordinary girl or name.

Stutters, pauses and lightning-fast speech. This is Dane Christian Pido Morena in three lines.

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A fast-speaking and tongue-tied kid with a heart for journalism, it would seem inconceivable that he could pull off hosting stints like in proms, fiestas, pageants and, even parties. He is also a science enthusiast, a balladeer, and most importantly, a journalist.

The journalism journey of this lad hailing from Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro started when he was in the sixth grade. He joined the new journalism team of his elementary school, specializing in editorial writing and copy reading.

Unbeknownst to him, it will be one of the best decision he will ever make.

Christian continued with editorial writing in junior high. He also competed in the Science and Health Writing category in his ninth and tenth grade. In his senior year, he was appointed as the editor-in-chief of his school’s publication, The Mangroves.

Despite winning a best reader award in grade school, he started to stutter in fear of making mistakes. But instead of letting his fear come in his way, he still engaged in radio broadcasting in junior high. He then overcame his weakness with the help of his committed coaches and he even discovered his potential in hosting.

Gaining momentum, young Christian strives for greater heights. Senior high school led him to his further breakthroughs in journalism. He was appointed as the associate editor of their school newspaper, Ang Divine Lens. He won in Division Schools Press Conference for two consecutive years in editorial writing and qualified for the Regional level, awarded best presenter in television broadcasting in town, and owned best anchor, best scriptwriter, and best infomercial in radio broadcasting school competitions. He also founded the first ever broadcasting organization of their school, Hayag Broadcasting Club.

Now, 18-year-old Christian embarks on a new journey as a BS Development Communication student in University of the Philippines Los Banos. Dream’s high, he aspires to be a TV news anchor or a host in environment and wildlife programs in channels like NatGeo and Born To Be Wild.  From being a stuttering high schooler, Christian is now ready to take another step in his journey to be the best journalist he can be.