OVERVIEW:
Date: August 28 2023
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Programme:https://drive.google.com/file/d/151aju_S-1FvlSBfi0XcRR1EB7fDOPtCf/view?usp=drive_link
Keynote: Guy Berger, formerly of Unesco
The African Journalism Education Network’s second annual roundtable in Kigali, Rwanda concluded with adoption of the network’s constitution. The meeting brought together academics, media practitioners, and industry experts from around the world on August 28 2023 and featured almost 20 speakers, two panel discussions and workshops on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to preparing students to handle journalistic trauma.
Under the theme “Teaching new African journalisms,” educators discussed various issues that affect journalism teaching on the continent, among these was the perceived disjuncture between what is taught in journalism schools and the skills required in newsrooms.
The keynote address was delivered by Guy Berger, former Unesco director of the division of freedom of expression and media development. Berger urged African journalism educators to connect with each other and relevant stakeholders to increase their social capital. “The fewer your connections, the less rich your teaching will be,” he said as he advised for connections with working journalists, NGOs, environmental activists and children’s rights organisations.
Leading the discussions was a panel of journalism professionals accompanied by Prof Jjuuko and facilitated by Prof Booker. Jamila Mahomed of the Citizen TV, in Kenya, kick-started the discussions by arguing that journalism interns coming from j-schools were not ready for the “practicality” of the newsrooms”. Other panellists, Nigel Mugamu of the 263Chat, in Zimbabwe and Julia Majale concurred, with the former arguing that “we used to assume they know something, now we assume they know nothing”.
Mugamu said there was a “generational” problem, where students were taught with old technologies which were no longer in use in newsrooms. “Teach them to use things they are familiar to them… teach them how to practise journalism instead of teaching them journalism,” he urged.
Prof Jjuuko said increased internship programmes would help bridge the gap between academic training and the newsroom. Academic programmes, she said, were “packed” and did not allow for practical training. “We are forced to teach each and everything in the menu,” she said. There was also understaffing and a lack of professional skills among journalism academics, she added.
Since newsrooms don’t have enough time to nurture new journalists, internships should be extended and a four-year degree should be considered to allow for practical training time, said Prof Jjuuko.
Declining writing skills among journalism students was highlighted as a key concern. There was also the concern that students were taught in Western languages yet they had to report in indigenous languages.
Prof Booker suggested that journalism academics take their sabbaticals in newsrooms instead of going to other universities. This, she said, would help academics understand the contemporary needs of newsrooms.
Bongiwe Tutu from the Wits Centre for Journalism presented findings of a survey assessing the use and impact of journalism textbooks in African universities, colleges and schools.
Ajen launches formally:
The 2023 roundtable meeting was concluded with the formal launch of the African Journalism Education Network (AJEN) and the adoption of the network’s constitution whose preamble reads:
“As journalism educators from across sub-Saharan Africa, we have come together in the realisation that journalism schools have an important role to play in improving the quality of journalism and strengthening the information rights of citizens. Journalism teaching takes many forms and is offered by a range of institutions, and can play various roles, including:
- Teaching a new generation of journalists;
- Upskilling working journalists;
- Teaching community journalists and others outside of mainstream employment;
- Contributing to knowledge generation through research and study;
- Contributing directly to policy and other public discussion and practice;
- Supporting innovation in the media space.
“We believe that in a rapidly changing and challenging media environment, journalism educators need to keep a keen eye on new developments in the working world, and need to come together to engage and learn from each other.”
The network will accept individual journalism educators and institutions as members. While the original geographical scope was Sub-Saharan Africa, the round table agreed that membership should be open to North African countries.
An executive board was elected, with Dr Franz Krüger of the NLA Høgskolen, in Norway and of Wits University as founding president and Prof Nancy Booker from Aga Khan University, in Kenya, as deputy-president. Other members of the board are: Dr Sisanda Nkoala of the Cape Peninsula University Technical University (secretary-general), Christina Chan-Meetoo of the University of Mauritius (treasurer), Prof Margaret Jjuuko of the University of Rwanda, Dr Basel Hamusokwe of the University of Zambia and Dr Modestus Fosu of the University of Media, Arts and Communication, in Ghana, as additional executive members. The executive board will serve for a period of two years.
Panel at EACA 2023:
Following the roundtable meeting, Aje hosted a panel discussion at the 13th annual East African Communication Association (EACA) conference from August 29 – 31 2023 at the University of Rwanda.
The panel on “The professionally engaged journalism teacher – tensions and opportunities” was chaired by Dr Franz Krüger of the Wits Centre for Journalism and NLA Mediehøgskolen. The panellists, Prof Monica Chibita, Dr Mamadou Ndiaye, Dr Sisanda Nkoala, and Prof Nancy Booker are leaders in journalism teaching from across the continent, brought together through Ajen.
The four speakers reflected on notions of professionalism as they emerged in
journalism, and the related history of professional journalism teaching in universities, while considering some of the tensions that have emerged from the more recent
democratisation of media production through new media. The panel shared experiences of ways in which journalism schools and teachers across Africa have attempted to maintain their engagement with the professional world.
Read our post-meeting reports of the 2023 Ajen roundtable: