publication visit

... Behind the scene...

"Wise is the man who learns from his experience, wiser still is the man who learns from the experience of others.”

I had seen and proved that learning things through experience would inculcate the lessons in us better and more intact. We usually just read the newspapers or any other kind of publication we buy but we don’t seem to notice how great the effort planted by the newspaper staff just to produce it and provide it to us for our welfare. This realization was brought to me during our publication visit.

Amidst the strong pour of the rain and our running nose, we were able to visit two respected local publications, the Sun Star Baguio and the Northern Dispatch.

Sun Star Baguio was our first destination. Just upon entering their building, I am already amazed. After the reception area, we pass through the printing room where printing machines were placed. We may not have witness the actual flow of the printing process, but I am still contented to have a seen a bit. It was my first time to have a visit on publications and I am really excited to be stepping there. We have waited for quite long before Mr. Sam Bautista, the Sun Star editor-in-chief arrived. He was the one who shared to us details about their publication. Sun Star Baguio proved to be a well-managed local publication. In fact, it is the only daily newspaper in Baguio and it really entails a lot of hard work and patience. Time is truly gold for them. They have to allot much of their time so they could accomplish their daily tasks and to provide the people good stories and fresh information.

Northern Dispatch on the other hand seems to be the number one Indigenous Peoples advocator. Since it had started as an IP advocacy network, there is no wonder why they focus more on the IP’s and the marginalized sectors. That is their unique characteristics and the uniqueness distinguishes them from others. Though they are not a daily publication, still they served well their fellows. They became an instrument and catalyst for change and heritage protection. Aside from providing worthy news and information, they keep the awareness of the people in Northern Luzon awake and alert. I could see that even they lack man power; they still strive to work harder to beat the time. They don’t chase after money and fame but more for their interest, passion, and willingness to help.

As a budding and aspiring journalist, nothing could be greater than looking on those efforts myself. The visit we had served me very well. We may not have totally explored the places but at least, we tried to look into the real world of newspaper men and see the beauty of effort engraved in every drop of ink. I must say that their newspaper or their publication is a wonderful product of their responsibility and their passion on their jobs. That their job doesn’t just require hard work but most especially it requires will, passion, and dedication on their job. For them money could never overturn their passion to write and serve other of their kind.

I strongly believe that one day; this experience will be of great use to us. And since we are to start our own publication, this will never be a waste of time and effort. Rather, we could be more motivated and inspired to work harder and more passionately to serve ourselves and the others most especially as well.