First-year students at the University of Media, Arts and Communication – Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ) have been encouraged to build connections with media practitioners to enhance their career prospects.
The call was made at “Start Right”, an event organized by Professor Godwin Etse Sikanku and the Center for Public Discourse and Analysis (CPDA) on Friday.
Speakers at the event emphasized that networking with industry professionals could be instrumental in shaping students’ future success in journalism.
Ace broadcast journalist at Media General, Martin Asiedu Dartey, urged budding communicators to take advantage of media assignments to establish professional contacts.
“You need to build the right network,” he said at the university’s Dzorwulu campus in Accra. “Anytime you go and cover an event with other journalists, establish relationships with them.”
He also advised students to build portfolios of their work, including news articles and video reports, to serve as references for future opportunities.
Portia Gabor, an award-winning reporter at Media General, encouraged the freshers to take the initiative by producing their own news stories. She highlighted the opportunities in digital media, urging students to explore platforms like podcasting and YouTube to showcase their work.
“What are the challenging problems in society? Is it rubbish in your area that hasn’t been collected for a very long time? Use your phone. Many stories we showcase on television are recorded with our phones. Start like that and post on your social media channels,” she advised.
She further urged students to specialize in a particular area of journalism, citing her impactful work in health reporting as an example.
Adding to the discussion, UniMAC-IJ lecturer, Eva Kuupuolo, known for her student advocacy, encouraged students to step out of their comfort zones and form meaningful relationships.
“The kind of people in your circle goes a long way to determine your future,” she counselled.
Explaining the purpose of the event, Professor Sikanku said it was designed to provide first-year students with insights from experienced journalists and academics on how to build successful careers in the media industry.
For him, laying a strong foundation in university begins with starting right.
Mitchell Asare Amoamah