- Melissa along with a member of SIGNIS covering news at Papal Audience, Vatican City.
Melissa with other VJs during their outdoor task at Rome.
Melissa Fernando dreams to work with the CNN as a broadcast journalist.
Melissa receiving Appreciation Certificate from Sir Augustine Loorthusamy, former SIGNIS World President.
Melissa with her team for the SIGNIS's Video Journalist programme in Cambodia.
Melissa Fernando, a final year student of Limkokwing University’s Faculty of Communication, Media & Broadcasting, knows the power of being a broadcast journalist. Her passion in journalism has granted her paid trips to Cambodia and Italy by an organization called SIGNIS.
“Prior to studying at Limkokwing University, I was working with Astro for seven years. It was a big decision for me to quit and continue my studies but because of it, I’m now on my way in reaching closer to my dreams,” said Melissa.
Being a member of SIGNIS’s association, Melissa was given an opportunity to train eight media practitioners from around the world to cover the SIGNIS World Congress 2014 as journalists. The congress was held at Rome, Italy recently with the theme: ‘Media for a Culture of Peace’.
SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communication) is a movement for professionals in the communication media, including radio, television, cinema, video, media education, Internet and new technology. It is a non-profit organization with representation from over 100 countries.
Melissa, who wanted to gain more exposure in broadcasting journalism, took the initiative herself to apply and be a member of SIGNIS. She explains, “Earlier I had participated in a SIGNIS programme representing Malaysia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia as a video journalist. There were eight of us from different parts of Asia, for the Cambodia programme and from there only four was selected to attend the event at Rome.”
The SIGNIS Asia Video Journalists (VJ) program in Cambodia began on 24 November 2013 was held for a week-long exploration into images and sounds for empowering the underprivileged.
The participators were set out to the streets and slums of Phnom Penh as they were required to observe and interview people. The VJs in Cambodia had to make video documentaries using three formats: mobile phone, still camera and video camera.
“It’s was a thrilling experience to interview a vegetable vendor using my mobile phone and enabling his struggles to come alive on the wide screen,” said Melissa.
Her passion for photography grew when she won the 5th place for the SIGNIS Photo Competition 2013. She says, “Now my camera has thousands of photos which speaks a lot about the world.”
“Tan Sri played a significant role in my life. His belief in me has encouraged me to travel this far,”
The SIGNIS Photo Competition 2013 aimed at the mobilizing media practitioners all over the world to express their vision of a ‘Culture of Peace’ through photography.
Melissa shared, “It wasn’t easy. I kept looking at all my pictures to see which picture spoke for the theme. I had many pictures of children in the slum areas whose parents are the garbage collectors. I was thinking whether the pictures were speaking for peace or freedom. The picture that won me 5th place captured two girls at their home smiling but below the house was just full of garbage. Yet when the girls saw the camera, they knew what to do and gave genuine smiles. Though I didn’t expected to win, I have managed to bring them to the eyes of the world.”
“I should give credits to my lecturers at Limkokwing University because previously I had only advertising background. Just before I left to Cambodia, I covered a TV news subject for my assignment that was the main reason why SIGNIS gave me an advantage to be a trainer for other media practitioners even though I’m still a student. It’s because of the subjects and the syllabus that I went through and the activities that I have completed in the University that made SIGNIS trust me by giving me such responsibility,” told Melissa.
Speaking about her experience in Italy during the congress, she said, “Going to Rome, I had so many questions in me due to the fact that I had to train people who didn’t possess any broadcasting background. Somehow we, the trainers had some scheduled plan to ease our work, so basically we had to inform them about the format of TV news. It was totally a different experience and I learned from it.”
Melissa felt very grateful as she was exposed to many media practitioners with vast knowledge from around the world. “Being around them was so overwhelming for me,” she said.
“Though I went there as a trainer, the organisers gave me an opportunity to participate in the workshops and I had presented for one of the activities on future search. During that time, I had a chance to promote Limkokwing University to everyone there,” shared Melissa.
Melissa describes Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing as her constant motivator. Tan Sri’s lines to her; “Be the best in the best!” has made a huge impact on her thoughts. She is very much amazed by his simplicity and humility. “Tan Sri played a significant role in my life. His belief in me has encouraged me to travel this far,” concluded Melissa.