Journalists implored to acquire Multimedia skills

 

By Samuel Ejoku

The Executive Director African Institute for Investigative Journalism Solomon Serwanjja has challenged journalists to acquire all round skills in the journalism profession.

Speaking to the student journalists on Friday October 11^th in a public lecture organized by the Journalism department under the theme News making and the public Relations Frames in the digital age, Serwanjja interested journalists to acquire skills in video editing, after effects, script voicing, news writing among many skills in the field of journalism.

“Assuming two journalists approached a media house asking for work, one has a degree in Journalism, the other a Diploma in the same field but the one with a degree has few or no skills and the one with a Diploma has many skills, he/she can edit Video, Edit Audio, can use after effects etc. Who will be given a job?” he asked. To the reply of many students, “the one with a Diploma,”.

“You need to know even in the current news rooms, they are looking for journalists with the multimedia skills. Don’t wait, acquire those skill today if you are to be useful today,” Serwanjja emphasized amidst attentive listening journalism students.

He said in the current evolving era with various digital media platforms, journalists need to be relevant by providing the public with information which meets their expectations and this can only be possible if the journalists have the multimedia skills.

Executive Director African Institute for Investigative Journalism Solomon Serwanjja ( Photo Source; Internet)

“During the early days, we used to have only the mainstream media involving the radios, News papers and Television. These commanded power since people had to wait for information and news from these platforms. Today, virtually every one is a journalist. A person records what’s happening at the real time and posts in the digital spaces. Things have Changed!” the award-winning Journalist emphasized.

 

Citing X platform the former twitter, Serwanjja with the following of over 300,000 people said, journalists can use such platforms for publishing their stories and engage in topical discussions other than only depending on the main stream media to publish stories yet many people are waiting for good content online.

“The world is changing. You have to change. Put up good content and people will follow you,” he said.

Recounting on his experience when he visited the BBC studios, he revealed that, Robots have been adopted to handle some tasks in the news room there.

He added that, as some people are taking long to adapt to the changing technology and fighting Artificial Intelligence (AI), soon news rooms will adopt it in Uganda as it has happened in some parts of the world.

“You cannot fight Technology. You have to embrace it. We need to evolve, if we don’t, we shall die,” the African Institute for Investigative Journalism boss said to the silence of the journalism students who turned up to listen to him.

Challenging the Old journalism training curriculum still being used by some institutions, he called for an over halt into the curriculum and rallied institutions to adopt the new one which seeks to address the bottle necks associated with the old curriculum.

Serwanjja who also lectures in Makerere University in the department of Journalism as well as a PhD student in Uganda Christian University called on journalists to grow their online presence as this matters these days.

Meanwhile, Pius Lubwama, an official from the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) encouraged the journalism students interested in public relations as a career to register with PRAU and become members.

Lubwama explained that becoming a member of PRAU exposes one to training opportunities including internship placement and Jobs.

He added that PRAU is a Public Relations body that brings all Public Relations practitioners in Uganda.

“For you to register as a member, you only pay Shs. 50,000 and annually subscribe with the payment of Shs. 50,000. If you are affiliated to PRAU, you increase your chances to a lot of things that will benefit you in the career,” Lubwama said.

While closing the public Lecture, the Head of Department Herbert Mudoola applauded the guest speakers for sparing their time to speak to the student journalists calling on them to honor the University invitation next time whenever called upon.

“Am very well aware that you are busy people, but amidst your tight schedules you made time to come and speak to these students. Thank you very much for honoring our invitation,” Mudoola delivered a closing remark before a student closed with a word of prayer.