Language of Non-Literary Texts in-depth reportage podcasts
This course is quite pioneering, not only because of the worldwide pandemic and perennial natural calamities but since it is already a new age of major course under the English Language Studies curriculum. ELS 111 or Language of Non-Literary Texts is not meant to replace journalism subjects the AB English students used to have such as editorial and feature writing, technical writing, creative non fiction or creative writing combined with literature subjects (World, Anglo-American, Afro-Asian or European). But for all intents and purposes, ELS 111 is for a more in-depth and investigative field of studies about a whole range of topics, it focused only on the environment, climate and ecological worldview. With the use of a host of tools like documentary, mobile journalism, photojournalism, or some other new age way of doing things, it was decided to take an older but a more aural medium of podcasting. It benefited from the National Conference on Investigative Journalism from the leading institution since 1989, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism has been established for a newly restored democracy in the country. With the onset of the pandemic, there was also this kind of infodemic that is plaguing public discourse and the advent of online and internet-based reporting. The cure of fake news during this times would be a robust, in-depth and data-driven reporting. Built on a lockdown situation and enhanced and modified community quarantine, ELS 111 was designed to suit the new normal and flexible learning modalities. Language of Non-Literary Texts dwells on the hope that while combating the raging pandemic and natural calamities along with climate crisis, BA ELS learners would be able to adapt and gather data, process the useful information and transform knowledge into wisdom based on ecological practices and sustainability parameter. Likewise, since learners from 15 to 65 are discouraged to go out for safety and health reasons, in-depth reportage on natural, ecological and environment would be more suited to the situation. Even the expected deliverables like annotated bibliography or material sources would be the basis of podcast episodes written and produced by the learners for future generations as a testament against malinformation, disinformation and mistruths.
Dr. Randy T. Nobleza
1st Semester 2020-21
Marinduque State College