Students learn writing skills at journalism workshop

Wasti Atmodjo ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Ubud   |  Sat, 10/10/2009 1:23 PM  |  The Archipelago

Dozens of high school students from Denpasar and Ubud in Bali took part enthusiastically in a one-day young journalist workshop in Ubud on Thursday.

The Jakarta Post daily organized the workshop as part of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.

"Many young people don't read newspapers because they're too difficult and boring," said one participant at the workshop, adding students at their age preferred watching TV.

Another student argued that as young people, they had to read and obtain as much information as they could. "If you don't know anything about what's happening around you, you're not cool," she said.

"Teenagers need to get the news from newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and the Internet. It can be politics, economics, sports, music or entertainment.

"Be smart, creative and innovative young people," she added.

The workshop brought together students from different schools trying their best to be "professional journalists".

Guided by one of the Post's editors, Rita Widiadana, the workshop was an eye-opener for the young students seeking to become more aware of what was going on in their neighborhoods, cities and elsewhere in the wider world.

The activities included writing headlines, picking the best photos and laying out the front page of a newspaper.

"Not only does the workshop enhance their writing and reading skills, it also gives them a chance to work as a team, build friendships and improve their self-discipline and self-confidence," Rita said.

I Putu Aprilia Rusiana, from the Putra Bangsa Vocational School in Ubud, said the workshop definitely benefited her.

"I dream of on day becoming a writer. This is the beginning of my training to achieve that dream," she said.

Her school has always sent students to take part in the workshop, held annually for the past six years.

"But our school hasn't published a school magazine yet," Aprilia said.

"I hope the headmaster will soon create one where we can publish our written work."

Nia Bayu, from state high senior school SMAN 1 in Denpasar, said she was very happy to attend the workshop. "My hobby is writing, and I'm a member of my school's journalistic team," she said.

The workshop, she went on, had helped her sharpen her journalistic skills.

"During the workshop, we can voice our opinions, argue with our friends or other groups on specific topics like batik preservation, corruption, natural disasters and pop music and movies," Nia said.

"Plus we made new friends and this was an inspiring workshop."

Ni Wayan Redani, a teacher from state senior high school SMAN 2, accompanied her 10 students at the workshop.

"We have a school publication called Sistaras, and these students are the editors and reporters for the publication," she said.

She added such a workshop was important for her students to gain first-hand information on how to create proper publications. "This workshop will provide the students with new experiences," said Redani, a journalistic trainer at SMAN 2.

The students, divided into six groups, came up with stunning publications named Sipirili News, Nymphomania, Election, Karmanya Post and Kaki Lima.

The Jakarta Post Foundation has been organizing workshop programs for teachers and students across Indonesia through its Newspaper in Education (NIE) program.

The foundation has trained 3,000 teachers and 25,000 students from Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java and East and West Nusa Tenggara since the program started in November 2007.

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