SECOND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR AND CONFERENCE BY NEPMCC.

SEMINARS 2013 IN JOURNALISM ORGANIZED BY NEPMCC HOSTED BY SENECA, AND FINANCED BY CANADIAN HERITAGE AND TD FINANCIAL GROUP.

BY Pudhuvai N.Raman.

‘A pen is mightier than a sword’ is an ancient proverb. Revolutionary changes in the history of the world are due to the great writer’s thoughts and actions brought tremendous awareness among all to get such changes for peace and harmony in this world. Thus innumerable great thinkers, philosophers, eminent scholars “pen” has played a vital role from unmemorable days till to day by their write ups to make such changes, which everyone will certainly agree with me.

For all these achievements, no doubt the Media is the root cause to focus among the readers to kindle their spirit in right direction to bring into action. Hence we are all fortunate at the present advance scientific age with all modern facilities Media’s contribution is beyond the words of appreciation. As such the Print and Web Medias, being an important weapon in all languages do their best to promote all types of professions from politics to social in all respects. Whether it is a daily news paper, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual, everything has its own values and appreciation in our society. Similarly the Radios, TV Stations and web Medias also do their best on the same way. Uniting all these medias under one roof in Canada, we all know that the National Ethnic Press & Media Council, has been doing a wonderful services for the past more than 30 years and the credit goes to the President Mr Thomas S. Saras, an immigrant to this Country, who is been doing amazing contribution by uniting all media entrepreneurs with dedicated involvement to bring unity among the Ethnic Communities Press as the Torch Bearer of this Organization.

To add more credit to this renowned Council, the 2nd Professional Development Conference and Training Seminars 2013 in Journalism, was inaugurated on 6th of December at Seneca – Markham Campus, in fitting manner, hosted by Seneca. This year conference concluded on the 8th of December, attended by more than 300 members and registered delegates from all walks of life, who are involved in media services such as publishers, editors, and reporters, free-lance writers including Radio, TV and Web (the New) Medias. The President, the Board of Directors, the Executive Members of NEPMC and volunteers of Seneca made all arrangements in pleasing manner for the success of this year’s Seminar and Educational Conference. More than three hundred members from all over Canada, had the opportunity to attend this historic educational professional development event which, I do believe, gave us all the necessary knowledge of the Canadian regulations about journalism.

Team of NEPMC’s VP’s Ned Blair, Ahmed Hotaki, Indranil Nanda, Patrick Long, Rakhee Prabhakar ( Asian Connections), Tatyana Fursenko, Maria Voutsinas, Ali Etihad and the rest of the members and volunteers at the reception booth gave a warm welcome to all and presented the ID Batches with the complimentary bag with conference materials consisting of the Conference Topics and program, all the presenters as well as the “Participants Learning Manual” & Participants Evaluation Survey form. Mr Paulson Makenzie Johnson volunteered to distribute the Application Form for Registration of the Conference as well Membership Forms of NEP&MC plus guided all registered participants to the venue. The conference attended by members of the organization from every corner of the Country, from Vancouver to Quebec. They traveled via air, rail and cars in order to be part of this historic for the sector event. For the three days of the conference the Delta Markham Hotel was totally occupied by our members.

Since all media representatives are the members of NEP&MC, the President Mr Thomas Saras, and his daughter Maria Saras-Voutsinas, Vice President Public Relations of NEP&MC, welcomed all and had a nice meeting and shared their good wishes. All the participants after entering the Conference Hall were chatting with one another, viewing the Souvenir as well the program sheet of inaugural session spent time till noon. Following the delicious lunch, the session began with the introductory welcome address by the President, who illustrated the salient features of the 1st, 2009 year successful conference and thanked everybody, who were the back bones for its grand success, concluded with felicitation address of Rt.Hon. Stephen Harper Prime Minister of Canada. He also welcomed and introduced the renowned speakers and dignitaries of Seneca, whose valuable support to conduct this fabulous event will ear mark a new history among the Press. He also stated that Canada is uniquely characterized by the multicultural tapestry, each colorful thread at once being unique, and at the same time integral and opportunity to the ‘wrap and weft’ of Canada’s whole tapestry. Together we weave a common story of coming to a new country with hopes, dreams and hardships, seeking community establishing and integrating into defining and mapping belief and opportunity in defining ‘ What it is today to be Canadian’.
Through this conference the opportunity to validate and update the professional skills with integrity Canada’s dominant press and media freedoms advocacy voice that resonates locally, nationally and world wide in the definition of democracy, he said.
He also thanked the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for their belief and trust in and financial support of this project hosted by Seneca College and the TD Financial Group for the generous financial support for the successful conduct of this year’s conference in putting the cornerstone of the foundation for a very successful seminar and conference as manner in various ways and means.

In The inaugural session David Agnew, President of Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology , who was introduced by the President of NEP&MC gave an felicitation address followed with the Professors of Seneca college of various faculties spoke and felicitated NEP&MC outstanding contribution to fabricate all press Medias under one roof through this wonderful conference, and expressed their views by mentioning that this year conference which will definitely would make a great history in Canada’s media achievements exactly the same way as the first conference of the organization held during 2009.
Seneca College Radio and TV unit interviewed the participants and relayed often intermittently. At the reception hall, number of newspapers, journals and periodicals in various languages were displayed by various press organizations which I have listed out at the end.

Ms Maria Voutsinas, being the MC gave an welcome address and introduced the guest speakers of Seneca. The first session started by Prof. Dr. Donna Messer, Canada's 'Queen' of Business Networking & President, Connect Us, Canada, who spoke on ‘The Art of Effective Business Networking. As one of the best women speaker, journalist, author, coach, trainer, facilitator, mentor and leader her credentials are beyond the words of appreciation to mention. Very effectively, elaborately and intellectually, her speech was really very impressive she shared her past two decades of experience in various angles with illustrations & references. She also appreciated various journals and authors contribution by showing variety of journals as specimens of selective magazines as an ardent regular reader of most of the publications. During questions time, myself and the Editor of Asian News connections Madam Prabhakar raised few questions which was aptly answered.

Following is the agenda of first day session held in various chambers, in which the speakers delivered lectures on various useful topics.

Ronin Potter, Professor-School of English & Liberal Studies of Seneca College (Using WordPress com to create Responsibility online BLOG Websites,, Paula Todd, Lawyer, Leading National Author & Journalist, Advocate of Justice, Professor of School of Media & Marketing – Seneca and York ( Authenticity, Transparency and Accountability), Byron G. Tovar, Professor of School of International Business , Faculty of Business-Seneca College ( Leveraging Cultural Diversity into effective business strategy and Opportunity), Hamza Khan, Digital Strategist, Entrepreneur Media Business , Professor of Seneca college ( 360 Degree Digital Marketing Strategies for New Audiences), Ms Sun-Kyung (Sunny) Yi, Program coordinator, professor, documentary film making Institute, School of Creative Arts and animation- Seneca college ( The potential of Ethnic Youth poly-ethnic and Trans Ethnic Groups for Canadian Ethnic Publishers), Ms Barbara Caine’s, Senior Canadian Broadcast Journalist (Professional writing and interview skills and best practices), Dr George Andrew Gekas, Associate Professor of Business Administration – Ryerson University ( The cost benefits of quality and time and how to secure business viability and sustainability), the whole session focused the present trend of Media sources with various illustrations, with video clippings and question hour.

Thus the whole plenary sessions concluded with evening refreshment and a note from the President’s speech for the next two days events, including the official Gala Dinner with the recognition of the dignitaries with presentation of appreciation award certificates and also recognizing some of them as Honourary Members of NEP&MC.

Similarly on 7th and 8th of December, following the plenary sessions were held suitably and the presenters on the topics are given below.
April Lindgren, (Ryerson University), Canadian Ethnic Community Media Specialist ( why local News matters), Dr Gabriel Huston, Professor, who was also in charge of the academic preparation of the conference, (acting IBS Program Coordinator of Seneca College School of International Business Faculty), ( The Pillars of Me. Inc – Your Strategic Business Road Map) & Dr Ralph Izzard, Professor Emeritus, Louisiana University and E. W .Scripps School of Journalism, OHIO University, (The Fundamentals of News Reporting). The speaker made an explanatory presentation, which were really admiring to most of the attendees to know various features of acquiring fresh thoughts to their media profession.

Apart from these sessions, we had an additional opportunity of sharing the experiences with feedback, the Seneca Radio Program Team (SAY RADIO NET of Seneca College)
RYAN E.LODAR - ANDRES ORBEGOZO ,-STEEVE PRINCE - SCOTT BURUTT - CARLA BLANCO -NATHAN CHAMBERS - KRISTY VIEIRA not only broadcasted the three days session with their comments as well interviewed the participants to express their views and experience, their feedback and opinion on the conference. Similarly the Seneca TV Team also interviewed number of the participants and relayed intermittently. Besides, the conference was also broadcasted through the web site of the organization www.nationalethnicpress.com.
I have no doubts that the whole operation was carefully and professionally prepared and executed.

On 7th December Ms. Andrea Horvath, MPP Leader of the provincial NDP, appeared a special speaker. She delivered an inspiring speech about her experience in politics. Similarly Mr Ramzi Saad, Deputy Director General, Cultural Industries, Department of Canadian Heritage, addressed the gathering and congratulated this year conference by stating this is the second victory of NEP&MC.

On Saturday the 7th of December for the Gala Dinner, all arrangements were super which inspired everybody. The event attended by various political personalities and other VIPs. To mention few the Hon. Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Hon. Michel Chan, Minister of Tourism for Ontario, the Hon. Jim Karygiannis MP, His Worship Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of the Markham, Mr. Ramzi Saad representing the Hon. Shelly Glover (Minister of Cultural Heritage), the Hon. Olivia Chao MP. Representing the NDP Party of Canada. Mr. Alexander Todd, representing Mr. Tim Hudat, the Leader of the Opposition for the province of Ontario. Mr Tony Ruprecht former MPP of Davenport, and other MP and MPP representing the political spectrum of the federal and provincial status. Further followed a delicious dinner, prepared and served by Nick Nickopoulos with wine, donated by “Oblio International Ltd” and the Consulate General of Romania in Toronto, which celebrates its 100 the Anniversary in Canada & in Romania’s 6000 year tradition of crafting world quality wines (Feteasca Neagra) were really admired every participant of the symposium. The atmosphere was more excited with the music and dance entertainment by a special group and their orchestra as well as of a renowned instrumental violinist which surprised everyone attending the event with his skills and art. The artists of the group presented selective songs with their wonderful melodious voice during dinner time. Adding an attention during the dinner, the young artist of Russian roots, who played solo violin, was really mesmerized everybody with awesome tunes. Further the TD Financial Group presented complimentary Diary -2014 to all , really impressed in total as an additional gift of sumptuous dinner. The President of NEP&MC Mr Thomas Saras honored the dignitaries with the presentation of Awards of appreciation and presented to them Honorary Membership certificate. Above all the winners of Raffle coupons which were presented with a variety of gift items also gave an immense pleasure in the grand gala dinner night which added a new attraction.

On the 8th Sunday, after the sessions we had a lunch break, and then the President of NEP&MC presented certificates of achievement to all participants to the conference. The certificates were signed by the President of the Seneca College, The Hon. Minister Shelley Glover and the President of the NEPMCC. Mr. Saras proposed a vote of thanks which was accepted unanimous.

Thus this year conference once again has proved its magnificent episode of all media’s great strength of unity among cultural and ethnic diversity in this beautiful Nation.

Here it should be mentioned that Tamil medias viz Thai Veedu, Tamil Mirror, Kathir Oli, Thalir, Dreams and Money, Uthayan, Tamils Guide, Uravu, Asian connections and Tamil CNN. Kalapam TV, Ceylon Express, Afgan Post, Road News, Sanhahish Newspaper, as well Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Chinese , Urdu, Pakistani, Caribbean, Philippines, Mexican, Italian, German, Greek, Spanish, Latin American, Bangladeshi, Russian, French, Irish, Hindi, Sri Lankan, Tamil with a very great representation from the Chinese Community Media, Nepalese, Irish, Portuguese, Brazilian, Nicaraguan, Kuban, Central and South American, the entire Philippine-Canadian Press Club, Lithuanian, Korean, Arabic, Ukrainian, Ethiopian, Ghanaian, African publications, Persian, Iranian, Syrian, Lebanese, Denise, Serbian, Croatian, Czech, Slovakian and other language publications editors, publishers and reporters were present, which created a very good picture of opportunity for unity and integrity to acquaint each others in this Annual Meeting.

On behalf of all the attendees and the representative members of all the ethnic publications of Canada, congratulations to one and all , who attended this year conference, especially to our President Thomas Saras and his Team for their excellent arrangements of the three days sessions and the great success of the venue. Congratulations also to the Administration and the staff of Seneca College for a job well done and their great hospitality, especially to President David Agnew and his Staff and all those who really worked very hard in order to achieve the great success. Thanks also going to the Government of Canada, The Prime Minister R. Hon. Stephen Harper and his Minister of Culture Hon. Shelly Glover and her team of political and civil staff. Thanks also goes to TD Financial Group and TD Bank for sponsoring the Seminar and financed the book and also the daily mills and the gala Dinner for the participants.
Thank you all.