BRATs step into world of journalism

GENTING HIGHLANDS: They went on interesting assignments like gibbon-watching, being butlers and visiting South-East Asia’s biggest hotel laundry room.

As part of the three-day BRATs young journalist workshop, 31 participants got a crash-course in journalism through sessions conducted by the award-winning R.AGE team, before heading into the field.

The BRATs Genting 2017 participants were divided into three groups, each tasked with producing stories, videos and photographs.

Aina Khairiyyah, 16, said the camp was an eye-opening experience.

“We were taught how to interview people and that really helped me compose myself and develop questions when we had to go for our assignments,” said the SMK Abdul Rahman Talib student.

Other than gaining interviewing skills, the BRATs had the opportunity to learn writing, video-journalism and photography.

Ashley Campos, 16, from Sri KL International School, said she learnt a lot from the photography workshop.

“Prior to this, I was never really familiar with the controls of a camera but now I’m able to understand photography techniques a lot better,” she said.

Campos also picked up video shooting and editing tricks. “I learnt the importance of action shots,” she said. “They really give the video more depth, which helps the audience visualise what is going on, which is really cool.”

Being treated like real journalists, having to write, shoot and edit stories and videos on their own, gave them the hands-on experience they never would have had otherwise, said Ang Jia Jiunn, 18.

“I was in charge of working on my team’s article, which is something I’ve never done before,” he said.

What they learnt during the workshops helped too. “The facilitators introduced the inverted pyra- mid style of writing to us, which is basically to start off with the most important information, and that really helped me develop the article,” he added.

After the camp, the participants will become regular contributors to The Star’s Education (StarEducate) section.

To be part of the BRATs family, log on to rage.com.my/bratsrecruitment.

Young and eager: Proud participants showing their certificates after completing the BRATs young journalist workshop in Genting Highlands.