The Masters of strategic and corporate communication and Masters of journalism and multimedia are the new programmes that have been launched at Makerere University’s department of journalism and communication.
The new programmes are a result of a split of the Masters of Arts in journalism and communication.
Launched on October 20 at the Telepresence Conference Room at Makerere University’s Senate building, the programmes will have their maiden students this academic year 2022/2023.
Dr Aisha Nakiwala, head of department of journalism and communication says support from Norway and Commonwealth Fund has been significant in the development of the programmes.
“We want to turn into a school of journalism and communication in the next five years. Management is helping g us revive campus fm. We hope the efforts yield results in the nearby future. We want to start a multimedia studio, revive our radio, start a television and newspaper,” she said.
According to Dr Nakiwala, the department of journalism and communication has become the most prestigious institution in the country, and efforts to turn it into a school are underway.
Ms Gloria Sebikari, manager corporate affairs petroleum authority of Uganda and keynote speaker at the launch said the Masters of Strategic and Corporate Communication needs to address challenges to information gaps, link classroom learning to daily practice and achieve community development.
Enrollment.
38 students have been enrolled into the maiden class of the Masters of strategic and corporate communication while only 9, of which only two are female, have been admitted in the Masters of Journalism and Multimedia programme.
Dr Marjorie Kyomuhendo, the programmes coordinator at the department of journalism and communication, says the enrollment disparity was expected since the demand for the Masters of Strategic and Corporate Communication was high.
“Many people have been asking us to run the strategic and corporate communication programme. Most of the students had applied for the Masters of art in journalism and communication, but when this programme was approved, a number of them requested to shift to it,” she said.
Dr Marjorie says the challenges ladies face while practicing journalism such as the long working hours, night shifts and risks involved in sourcing stories tend to discourage them from going in for journalism thus opting for Public Relations.
Need to be practical
The department of journalism and communication is working towards regaining its radio frequency, introducing a television and news paper.
According to Makerere University’s deputy vice chancellor in charge of academic affairs Prof. Umar Kakumba, the minister of ICT and national guidance Dr Chris Baryomunsi directed Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to hasten the process of securing a radio frequency for Makerere University.
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