REVISED: The Manila Times School of Journalism article

Setting a New Standard in teaching Journalism
By Katrina C. Guevarra

A school run by a newspaper. Think it’s too far-fetched? Well, think again.

Being relatively new in the education industry, The Manila Times School of Journalism (now The Manila Times College) has been creating a name for itself as a school that not only provides theories essential for learning, but also gives intensive training for its students with its training programs in Print, Broadcast and English Proficiency.

“Our whole philosophy is about marrying theory with experience. That is also why we set up a TV and radio studio. We are big on giving students practical experience.”, said Dante Francis Ang II, president of the Manila Times Publishing Corp. and The Manila Times College.

Ang II, tells us why they decided to come up with their own school for aspiring journalists, “We were frustrated with the quality of applicants to our newspaper, fresh grads from journalism schools who either didn’t possess the right skills or were competent but were already tainted by the system.” His father, Dante A. Ang, thought of establishing a school that will train students to be competent and skilled journalists. Thus, The Manila Times School of Journalism was born.

What sets the college apart from other universities is the students can work directly with the professional journalists in the Manila Times newsroom itself. “The fact that we have a daily newspaper makes the school unique, at least in the country and in Southeast Asia.”, said Ang.

Now on its fifth year, the school changed its name from The Manila Times school of Journalism to The Manila Times College --adapting the term “college’ as it offers new degree programs, AB English and AB History, starting school year 2008 -2009.

Being a student of the School of Journalism, I could truly say that the school is faithful to their mission of providing excellent training through practical experience. This is where the cliché of “experience is the best teacher” proves true. For I believe that in my stay in the school I learned more from what I saw, heard and felt outside the classroom walls (especially during coverage and interviews) than when I was inside it.