by Fr Nathaneal George for BISMumbai

The BIS correspondents from the Salesian communities of the Pune-Nagar region came together for a training session at Don Bosco Youth Centre, Koregaon Park. The session, held on 24 June 2025, focused on enhancing skills in report writing and photography in line with the BIS (Bosco Information Service) standards.

The day began with a short prayer service led by Fr Joyston Machado, the Province Delegate for Social Communication, who also introduced the scope and purpose of BIS. He emphasized that BIS is not just a news-sharing platform but a digital archive of the Salesian Province of Mumbai, and that every report must reflect the collective spirit of the institution, rather than just the part one represents.

The main resource person for the session was Mr Joy Fernandes, a member of the Social Communications Commission of the province. He offered valuable insights into writing clear, concise, and compelling reports that follow BIS guidelines. Participants were guided through the structure of a good BIS article, the process of editing, and common pitfalls to avoid.

The second half of the morning was dedicated to the visual side of storytelling. Mr Fernandes explained key aspects of photography for reports—framing, composition, and types of shots that complement written content. Participants then analyzed examples from newspaper articles and applied their learnings through interactive activities.

A hands-on writing exercise followed, where each participant drafted a news report based on the day’s session. These were then read, discussed, and critiqued in a collaborative spirit.

This zonal gathering, part of a new approach to meet BIS correspondents in smaller groups, allowed for deeper engagement, clarity of concepts, and practical learning. “Whether there will be a marked improvement in BIS reports,” Joy remarked with a smile, “depends entirely on the participants of this session.”

The training concluded with a word of encouragement and gratitude from Fr Machado, who reminded all that every story shared is a contribution to the Salesian mission of communication, formation, and evangelization.