Introduction
I was struck again, at the end of the graduation of more than 100 students, on July 13, 2024, in the Auditorium of the UASD in Santiago de los Caballeros, by the high rating that the students of the Santiago School of Communicators Training, of the Multimedia Word Society, place on them. They told me, once again, apart from other reasons, that they appreciate the high level of training they receive and that is why they attend these courses. I am amazed that there are graduates from Barahona, Puerto Plata, Dajabón, La Vega, San Francisco de Macorís and Valverde. They were there, in person, receiving their diplomas.
1-The Multimedia Word Society and its courses
Let us remember that this Society was formed in 2012. In a few days, on August 20, it will celebrate its 12th anniversary. It is non-profit, of course. It has been approved by Dominican law and by the Catholic Church. Its mission, according to article 4 of its Statutes, is “to be actively present in the media to offer guidance and produce public opinion, taking as a reference the Word of God and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.”
Also, according to article 4, among its objectives is this sixth one: “Coordinate courses, workshops and training seminars with ecclesiastical leaders on the use of the media, social networks and other related topics.”
These courses are so good, I repeat, they come from different places and backgrounds.
The motto of the Society is: “Nothing is done without the Word” (John 1:3).
2-Graduation in July 2024
These words are from the active agent as organizer of these courses, Mr. Francisco Cabrera:
“The Multimedia Word Society is a non-profit association of communicators, which focuses, among its objectives, on the comprehensive training of leaders and communicators. It holds three graduation ceremonies a year, in which certificates are awarded to participants in the courses of Professional Announcer, Commercial and Children’s Announcer, Leadership Trainer, Coaching, Corporate Communication, Project Management, Television Hosting, Photography, Public Speaking, Masters of Ceremonies, among other similar training actions.
Our School began in 2012, where more than 3 thousand people have been trained in different areas.
Last Saturday, July 13, the second graduation ceremony of this year took place, where 120 new communicators received their certification.
We currently have collaboration agreements with several educational institutions and associations of communicators, both national and international, including the Technical Institute of Professional Training (INFOTEP), Association of Announcers of Santiago (ALS), National Union of Press Workers (SNTP), Association of Announcers and Press of Puerto Plata, Youth Ministry, Cuban Radio Institute, etc.
3-Welcome and closing words
In my welcoming and closing remarks I stressed the following five points:
a) Communicators must be well educated in order to provide a better service and earn more money. I also touched on the topic of “producing money and other things to share.” For this purpose, I gave them my pocket book “Producing money to share” as a souvenir of their graduation.
b) They must also be very well informed technologically, especially today.
c) The same applies to ethics and values, something that we take into account in this School, apart from academic and technological training.
d) I also stressed that all of them would be invited to sell their services as communicators to politicians, drug traffickers and others. I told them the testimony of many who did not fall into this attractive temptation. They improve financially, but lose their power as communicators.
e) Finally, I insisted, as always, that communicators, journalists and broadcasters are either a blessing or a curse. Those who communicate true data are a blessing, those who defend the values of always, such as freedom, human dignity, equal but different human rights for men and women, respect and tolerance. I ask you to be blessed, not cursed for your work as communicators.
4-Words from the director
At the same graduation, during his speech, the director of Palabra Multimedia, Professor Lennys Tejada Betancourt, referred to the importance of family and friends in the educational process, these being key elements for the motivation and encouragement of students who count on their emotional support.
He also urged graduates to continue their education and professional development, not only because of the money that the technicalization of their roles will entail, but also because each training process implies a personal transformation, a satisfaction with existence and an intellectual growth that is not directly related to the economic.
5-Words of gratitude
At the same graduation, Tahina Collado graduated from the course on Public Speaking Techniques and Stage Fright Management, and gave the following words of thanks on behalf of all her classmates:
“Good morning to all of you, to each of the people who are honoring the main table, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Monsignor Ramón Benito de La Rosa y Carpio, Archbishop Emeritus of Santiago de los Caballeros and President of the Society of the Multimedia Word, and in his person we greet the other members of the table, the press and others who are accompanying us at this graduation ceremony.
I am very pleased with the opportunity that God has given me on this very special day, to be able to represent my classmates at this graduation ceremony of the course Public Speaking Techniques and Stage Fright Management. It is a true privilege.
I tell you that during these months we acquired a lot of knowledge, but above all to develop skills to communicate in a more effective and fluid way; but apart from this, we learned to handle one of the fears that practically envelops every professional: to control stage fright, giving way with this to the phrase of the great leader Nelson Mandela that says: “The brave is not the one who does not feel fear but the one who conquers that fear”, becoming this in a great plus for us, because controlling this part we take better advantage of the opportunities that life gives us, since we will express ourselves better and we manage to cut the tape of insecurity and go for more.
The acquired development will undoubtedly remain imprinted in our minds and we will remember it every time we are faced with the need to speak in public.
We are undoubtedly fortunate for all the above mentioned and without forgetting that we do not only have our own efforts to get here, for this reason we must mention the valuable contribution of the facilitators, both teachers and administrators, and in a very special way to the teacher Lennys Tejada for his patience with us and for always being willing to give a further explanation in a personal way. We would like to thank Ing. Juan Carlos Martínez, because thanks to him I got to know this preparation house.
How can we not thank God for so much? We can say with certainty that we are prepared, that we learned, and just like us, you can also give yourselves the opportunity to acquire new knowledge in the area of communication. For this reason, we urge you to enter the Multimedia Word Society to study, and so tomorrow any of you could be in my place giving words of thanks for everything you have learned, and also be filled with pride and say: we are graduates of this educational institution.
Finally, I would like to thank my family immensely for their support and on behalf of all the students, we once again thank this great team of professionals for all their contributions to each one of us. Thank you for your attention and have a happy rest of the day.”
Conclusion
I CERTIFY that all the information cited above is true and the words referred to are those of the persons cited therein.
I CERTIFY in Santiago de los Caballeros on the eighteenth (18) day of the month of July of the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four (2024).
