The online news magazine Pinoy Weekly invites everyone to the Pinoy Citizen Journalism Seminar on Nov. 29, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

No fees will be charged and you only need to register online.

From the official invite:

Tired of mainstream coverage of issues that affect you and your community? Do you feel that news reports about issues in your community are often slanted or inaccurate? Do you often wish you can report important events happening before your very eyes with the competence and skill of a professional journalist?

Then here is your chance to upgrade your skills! Come and participate in the Pinoy Citizen Journalism Seminar, entitled “May kuwenta ba kamo? E-kuwenta mo!”.

On November 29, 2008, from 9 am to 5 pm, ordinary citizens from various communities and sectors will converge in UP Diliman (venue to be announced) to talk about the prospects of true citizen empowerment through journalism. Through technological tools like the cellphone, the personal computer, and the digital camera, citizens have the opportunity to report events that unfold before their very eyes, from natural disasters to demolitions, from tragic accidents to state brutality and repression.

The Seminar will have a plenary discussion on the prospects of citizen journalism and the advent of technology that can be used for citizen reporting. In the afternoon, there will be breakout sessions on various journalistic skills, from news and features writing, to photography, videography and science journalism/blogging.

Invited speakers are practicing journalists from various mainstream media outfits like GMA-7, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), and, of course, Pinoy Weekly.

No registration fee! Come as you are! It would be better if you have basic tools like laptop or camera with you, but you can do with paper and pen.

Pre-registration will be open soon! First fifty (50) pre-registrants will get a Pinoy Citizen Journalism kit and free lunch!

From adarna’s attic:

Resource persons include Prof. Danny Arao (UP College of Mass Communications), Saksi producer Iris Pagsanjan (GMA 7), photographer Raffy Lerma* (Philippine Daily Inquirer), award-winning blogger and new media advocate Tonyo Cruz, NUJP Treasurer Rowena Carranza-Paraan, Dr. Giovanni Tapang (UP College of Science), SIPAT (Sine Patriyotiko) and speakers from Pinoy Weekly and CPU.

Illustration courtesy of eirikso.com.