The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has urged journalism and communication students to inculcate professionalism at an early age.
MCK Director for Media Training and Development Mr Victor Bwire advised students from Maasai Mara University’s Department of Media, Film and Communication who visited the Council to get creative in order to attract the changing audience preferences.
Mr Bwire spoke on the basic tenets of journalism that must be upheld while doing stories and emphasised the need for professional sourcing.
“A story must have a minimum of five sources with facts. As a journalist, your work is to let the audience make their own judgment from the story without injecting your personal opinion”, he said.
He emphasized the importance of thinking outside the box and implored the students to avoid being restricted to only working in established media houses in the country.
“Being a journalist is not only restricted to working in newsrooms. Journalism can be practiced everywhere, as long as one has a smart phone, they can be a content producer. The manner of journalism has changed as one is able to cover, edit and send their stories effortlessly. This does not mean that journalism is dead”, noted Mr Bwire.
While highlighting the changing media landscape and convergence, Mr Bwire encouraged the students to diversify their skills.
“Newsrooms are now converged where journalists are required to write stories for different platforms. One must be a good writer with a mastery of language and a flair of writing. Focus on what you want to do and give it your best”, he said.
The MCK official at the same time encouraged the university to start an online radio station that would aid in sharpening the students’ skills by giving them practical experience in preparation for the work industry.
He asked the students to take advantage of the Media Council of Kenya’s Industrial Placement Programme, saying it has assisted in mentoring journalism students who have been placed in various media houses across the country.
MCK Manager for Accreditation and Compliance Ms Rebecca Mutiso encouraged the students to register with the Council, saying accreditation would “open many doors” for the upcoming media professionals.
“The MCK accreditation is a testament of one being competent, qualified and a professional in the field. I urge you to accredit with us as this will be handy when seeking internship opportunities”, she said.
She also advised the students to take data journalism seriously, as it forms a foundation for news writing.