A mentorship and training session has been held for journalism students at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) to equip them with practical media skills.

The Dean of the School of Journalism and Media Studies, Prof. Etsey Sikanku, said the initiative forms part of efforts to produce well-rounded graduates who can meet the demands of the media industry.

He made this known during a practical training and mentorship session organised by the School of Journalism and Media Studies (SoJAMS), themed “Student Mentorship Session.”

Opening the session, Prof. Sikanku stated that the university would continue to engage experienced media professionals to provide hands-on training and mentorship for students, in a bid to address challenges within the media industry.

He explained that increased industry exposure would help prepare graduates and enhance their competitiveness in the job market.

According to him, UniMAC has developed a curriculum designed to equip students with both practical and theoretical tools needed in the media industry, urging students to take their academic work seriously and to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through their training and lectures.

Prof. Sikanku noted that the mentorship training session is aimed at positioning UniMAC-SoJAMS students above graduates from non-journalism tertiary institutions, making them highly sought-after in the media industry due to their professional competencies.

He emphasised the need for students to be adequately prepared for the demands of the media landscape, adding that the training is designed to address situations where some UniMAC graduates lose job opportunities to individuals from non-media backgrounds who demonstrate stronger practical skills.

Describing the situation as it is now, he said, he has observed that individuals without formal journalism training are sometimes able to compete with, and even outperform, those with specialised education in journalism.

Prof. Sikanku said the university is committed to addressing this gap through continuous practical training and mentorship sessions for students from Level 100 to Level 400.

The guest speaker, Beatrice Adu of TV3’s New Day, also urged students to take their training seriously, underscoring the importance of continuous learning, credible sourcing, and the application of the five Ws and one H in news reporting.

Sharing her experience, she said her first job after journalism school was with Joy FM, adding that her professional growth in the industry has been driven by continuous learning and practice.

Addressing primarily first-year students on topics such as journalism in the contemporary age, news gathering, news writing, news casting, and multimedia storytelling, she emphasised the importance of applying fundamental principles such as the five Ws and one H in news reporting.

She expressed concern that some media organisations are turning away journalism graduates due to their lack of basic professional skills.

Miss Adu advised students to remain open to learning, take their training seriously, and cultivate the habit of properly crediting sources while avoiding plagiarism.

She further stressed the importance of relying on credible and verifiable sources and encouraged students to learn from experienced professionals as part of their development in the field.