Gov’t communicators in Pangasinan oriented on media engagement

By VENUS MAY H. SARMIENTO

URDANETA CITY, March 26 (PIA) - Communicators of national government line agencies were oriented on the nature and functions of news media and how to best deal with this influential sector.

The activity, dubbed Media Engagement Workshop   is  a tripartite project of   the Pangasinan Association of Government Information Officers (PAGIO), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) - Region I and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) -  Pangasinan Information Office,

Oscar Navata, PAGIO president, said the seminar is necessary to strengthen and sustain partnership with the media and government information officers in Pangasinan.

“As the communicators of government  offices, the  member-agencies have identified this seminar  that  would help us become more effective in promoting the advocacies of our respective agencies and the government in general,” Navata told PIA.

Seasoned broadcast media personality Ms. Mercedes ‘Chi-chi’ Robles of the Peoples Television Network and Radyo Veritas, led the seminar-workshop at the NIA training centre here. 

Robles said the workshop is aimed at orienting the participants about the nature and functions of news media and coaching them on how to best deal with print, online and broadcast  media at all times.

“Learning to engage the media will maximize their power to inform and educate the public,” Robles said

 The one-day workshop included lectures, hands-on exercises, videotaping, critiquing and coaching. 

Engr. Vicente Vicmudo, NIA regional manager, said the training was helpful not only for the information officers but even for the section chiefs and division chiefs of  NIA all over the region who also deal with communication. 

“This is very vital to strengthen and sustain partnership with the media and information officers    to bring the good news to the public,” Vicmudo said. 

PAGIO, organized in 2003, is a group of information officers of national line agencies and local government units in Pangasinan which aims to establish a cohesive body of persons in the area of information and advocacy programs which will embody the sentiments  and aspirations of its  members. It is under the direct supervision of PIA. (VHS/PIA-Pangasinan)