Media schools challenged to produce professional journalist

Media schools have been urged to emphasise on work ethics and practices when training students. Speaking during the launch of school of creative arts, film and media studies and department of communication at Kenyatta University, Kenya Editor’s Guild Chairman Linus Kaikai said that communication schools should teach students values and ethics which they ought to maintain when they join the market.

“Journalists will then know right from school what is expected of them, they should get values that inform their careers, journalists as small as they are, they are the ones who hold leaders accountable by the questions they ask,” said Mr Kaikai.

Mr Kaikai’s sentiments come in the wake of widespread ‘brown envelope journalism’ in media houses.

There have been fresh calls for journalists to uphold integrity when dealing with stories and a call on public not to pay money to reporters to have their stories published.

Further, Mr Kaikai who is also the NTV managing editor emphasised on media schools concentrating on producing fully qualified journalist and not the half-baked ones that need fresh training when they join the job market

“We have a proliferation of colleges that are concentrating on numbers but not on quality of graduates that they are releasing to the market. Have a small class but well trained,” said Kaikai.

Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Olive Mugenda said that the newly launched communication and media studies class will admit the first batch of students this month.

“We are looking for a pioneer class of 25 students who will be self-sponsored, from next year, we shall start placing government sponsored students,” said Prof Mugenda.

She emphasised that the communication school will look into filling the gap in the job market while maintaining quality and work ethics.

The school also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pan African Federation of Film Makers and Kenya Film Commission.

“For the arts and film industries to prosper, a lot of research and mentorship is needed on the students,” said Ms Jane Munene the Chief Executive Officer of Pan African Federation of Film Makers.

Reference : www.nation.co.ke