Army’s CMOs undergo training on news writing, broadcasting, social media utilization

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 23): Army’s CMOs undergo training on news writing, broadcasting, social media utilization

Pagadian City -- Civil Military Operations (CMO) officers from the 1st and 6th infantry battalions of the Philippine Army (PA) have attended the Public Affairs Seminar-Workshop held on July 16-18 at Farmer’s Haven in Dao, this city.

The training sought to develop the skills of CMO officers in handling public affairs programs in their respective areas of responsibility.

In his message, Colonel Thomas Sedano Jr., executive officer of the Ofice of the Assistant Chief of Staff for CMO-Manila, said the higher command sees the need for the CMOs to be trained in public affairs, as they play a very important role in the community.  

Sedano added the CMOs were taught how to write press releases , utilize social media, conduct media interview/press conferences with invited lecturers from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 and the private media.

“This kind of training has been conducted for the first time in the different brigades and battalions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.  For Luzon-based units, the training was held in June at Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila, followed by the EastMincom in Davao City and WesternMindanao in Pagadian City, this July. While for the Visayas-based units, it will be held on last week of this month,” he added.

Lt. Leo Baloja, CMO of 55th Infantry Battalion, said he learned from the training the techniques in newswriting and proper procedures in conducting media interview. “With the knowledge that I’ve learned during the seminar, I will impart it to my fellow CMOs in the lower units for them also to effectively perform their duties,” stressed Baloja.

“I hope that this activity will be held annually to ehance our skills in public affairs,” Baloja suggested.

Lt. Mayven Prima, CMO of 53rd Infantry battalion, thanked the higher headquarters for implementing the program saying, “we have learned the proper techniques in writing news.”

“The training helped us develop our our skills in performing our tasks and duties. We need to keep our stakeholders informed of the programs and activities of Philippine Army through our good press releases,” Prima concluded.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1371406008710