Editors and writers brave typhoons for MTI conference in Manila
Just three days after typhoon Ondoy caused the worst flooding in
Manila in over 40 years, Magazine Training International (MTI) welcomed
the first participants of the 2009 “Mabuhay in Manila” conference for
editors and writers. Two courses, “Editing the Magazine” and “Writing
Effective Magazine Articles,” were held back to back from September 29
through October 7.
“Thankfully, the area around the Bayview Park Hotel, the venue for the conference, experienced only minor flooding and the courses went on as scheduled,” said MTI president Sharon Mumper.
Twenty editors and writers and six trainers from nine countries converged on Manila for the courses, with 12 participants and three trainers for each intensive course.
“Although at first we were disappointed in the low turnout for the courses, the small size of the classes was ideally suited to the topics,” Mumper stated. “Participants were able to get more individual help and both participants and trainers were able to develop deeper relationships than is often possible with larger groups.”
The broad range of countries represented, including Korea, Australia, Japan, England, Malaysia, the United States, India, Poland and the Philippines, provided a unique opportunity for cross-cultural learning. “It’s a privilege to be in a group where there’s a fusion of Eastern and Western ideas,” said Joanna Lee from Malaysia.
Participants and trainers represented a broad range of Christian periodicals. “I felt a kindred spirit among the participants and trainers,” stated Ann Kuy, editorial consultant of Monsoon magazine in the Philippines. “It is such a joy to connect and interact with communicators from other organizations.”
Editing the Magazine course trainers Mark Galli, senior managing editor of Christianity Today, Terry White, executive director of BMH Books, and Estera Wieja, managing editor of Nasze Inspiracje, systematically walked through the skills and procedures needed to successfully edit a magazine. Topics ranged from the qualities of a Christian editor to scheduling and production, from article editing to effective use of the Internet.
“I really learned so much!” said Rhea Hermoso-Prudente of Manila. “I also was glad to get a Christian perspective on the usually worldly industry. The trainers were very helpful.”
The editing course was challenging not only for editors new to Christian publishing, but those who have been publishing for years. Janet Camilleri founded her magazine Footprints, a magazine for Christian women in Australia, fourteen years ago.
She told MTI, “I feel I have been given the skills to take my magazine to a whole new level which was exactly what I wanted. And I found encouragement and hope for the future.”
With yet another typhoon bearing down on the Philippines, the participants of the next MTI course, “Writing Effective Magazine Articles,” received a flood of information.
“It is much more than I expected!” said John J. James, editor of Campus Link, an Indian magazine for university students. “The writing course by MTI served as a reminder and eye-opener. The conference helped me to evaluate my knowledge and style. I am sure my writing will never be the same.”
The writing course was both inspirational and practical with the opening session challenging participants to think about the legacy of their writing. During the course, participants completed a writing assignment that forced them to immediately apply what they learned in the sessions. Topics included finding and refining ideas, gathering information, writing leads and conclusions, and keys to powerful writing.
“I left with good technical help—something I’ve never had before in this kind of mission environment,” commented one participant from England. “I have some tools in my bag now. I left, also, with greater passion to write.”
“One fascinating aspect of the writing course was the totally different personalities of the three trainers,” commented Gary Bauman, editor of Japan Harvest.
Dr. Michael Ray Smith, professor in communications at Campbell University, Marlene Legaspi-Munar, freelance writer and speaker, and Kim Snider, founder and editor of Moms Magazine in the Philippines, brought different styles and experiences to the sessions.
Together, they demonstrated a commitment to helping the participants learn and use their gifts of writing for God’s glory.
“I was deeply impressed by the faith and ‘realness’ of the presenters,” commented Tim Clark, a writer and missionary in Japan.
“In Japan, this kind of training doesn’t exist, said Atsuko Tateishi, writer and translator for Japan Update. “It was well worthwhile to come all the way to receive high quality training from people of such high caliber.”
“I was uncertain and hesitant at first,” explained Filipina Normi Son who walked through chest-deep water to leave her home in order to attend the conference. “But now, when I think I might not have joined the conference, I know I would have missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The courses were the fourth and fifth offered by MTI in Asia, and the first time the writing and editing courses were held there.
“Thankfully, the area around the Bayview Park Hotel, the venue for the conference, experienced only minor flooding and the courses went on as scheduled,” said MTI president Sharon Mumper.
Twenty editors and writers and six trainers from nine countries converged on Manila for the courses, with 12 participants and three trainers for each intensive course.
“Although at first we were disappointed in the low turnout for the courses, the small size of the classes was ideally suited to the topics,” Mumper stated. “Participants were able to get more individual help and both participants and trainers were able to develop deeper relationships than is often possible with larger groups.”
The broad range of countries represented, including Korea, Australia, Japan, England, Malaysia, the United States, India, Poland and the Philippines, provided a unique opportunity for cross-cultural learning. “It’s a privilege to be in a group where there’s a fusion of Eastern and Western ideas,” said Joanna Lee from Malaysia.
Participants and trainers represented a broad range of Christian periodicals. “I felt a kindred spirit among the participants and trainers,” stated Ann Kuy, editorial consultant of Monsoon magazine in the Philippines. “It is such a joy to connect and interact with communicators from other organizations.”
Editing the Magazine course trainers Mark Galli, senior managing editor of Christianity Today, Terry White, executive director of BMH Books, and Estera Wieja, managing editor of Nasze Inspiracje, systematically walked through the skills and procedures needed to successfully edit a magazine. Topics ranged from the qualities of a Christian editor to scheduling and production, from article editing to effective use of the Internet.
“I really learned so much!” said Rhea Hermoso-Prudente of Manila. “I also was glad to get a Christian perspective on the usually worldly industry. The trainers were very helpful.”
The editing course was challenging not only for editors new to Christian publishing, but those who have been publishing for years. Janet Camilleri founded her magazine Footprints, a magazine for Christian women in Australia, fourteen years ago.
She told MTI, “I feel I have been given the skills to take my magazine to a whole new level which was exactly what I wanted. And I found encouragement and hope for the future.”
With yet another typhoon bearing down on the Philippines, the participants of the next MTI course, “Writing Effective Magazine Articles,” received a flood of information.
“It is much more than I expected!” said John J. James, editor of Campus Link, an Indian magazine for university students. “The writing course by MTI served as a reminder and eye-opener. The conference helped me to evaluate my knowledge and style. I am sure my writing will never be the same.”
The writing course was both inspirational and practical with the opening session challenging participants to think about the legacy of their writing. During the course, participants completed a writing assignment that forced them to immediately apply what they learned in the sessions. Topics included finding and refining ideas, gathering information, writing leads and conclusions, and keys to powerful writing.
“I left with good technical help—something I’ve never had before in this kind of mission environment,” commented one participant from England. “I have some tools in my bag now. I left, also, with greater passion to write.”
“One fascinating aspect of the writing course was the totally different personalities of the three trainers,” commented Gary Bauman, editor of Japan Harvest.
Dr. Michael Ray Smith, professor in communications at Campbell University, Marlene Legaspi-Munar, freelance writer and speaker, and Kim Snider, founder and editor of Moms Magazine in the Philippines, brought different styles and experiences to the sessions.
Together, they demonstrated a commitment to helping the participants learn and use their gifts of writing for God’s glory.
“I was deeply impressed by the faith and ‘realness’ of the presenters,” commented Tim Clark, a writer and missionary in Japan.
“In Japan, this kind of training doesn’t exist, said Atsuko Tateishi, writer and translator for Japan Update. “It was well worthwhile to come all the way to receive high quality training from people of such high caliber.”
“I was uncertain and hesitant at first,” explained Filipina Normi Son who walked through chest-deep water to leave her home in order to attend the conference. “But now, when I think I might not have joined the conference, I know I would have missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The courses were the fourth and fifth offered by MTI in Asia, and the first time the writing and editing courses were held there.