Background

Journalism and mass communication are highly dynamic expanding fields of actions where persons engaged in them are constantly, inquiring, analyzing, interpreting, criticizing compiling and disseminating information about issues, events and situations as they unfold in society. In the past, this was mainly the role of government institutions such as Radio Uganda and Uganda Television as well as few local news papers. The industry at the time required limited personnel most of whom recruited and trained on the job under the guidance of foreign expatriates. A few of the staff were given in service training at the former institutes of public administration or (UMI). However, the advert of liberation of the media industry, a number of radio, television stations print media houses and organizations have emerged leading to stiff competitions. This has raised the need for quality information gathering and dissemination to meet the expanding demand from the increasing and more enlightened population in need any information subsequently there as need for efficiently and effectively trained personable who will have a wider scope of what to criticize , analyze and interpret to meet the information needs of the masses. In the era of modern technology, society today recognizes information as a resource that exposes one to new markets; create investments, jobs and income. The Bachelors degree in Mass Communication therefore seeks to improve, and standardize training in journalism profession, by providing technical knowledge, skills and techniques of operating in the media industry in order to practice effectively with a broader knowledge of issues and tools needed in Journalism and mass communication.

Rationale for the Course

The media industry is among the fastest growing industries in Uganda. Sustainability this growth requires well trained and skilled journalists who will be able to gather, write, process, store and disseminate information. The Bachelors degree Program seeks to improve and standardize the training in Journalism /mass communication fields. It is designed for people who welsh to peruse Journalism / Mass Communication as a professional. The courses in this program provide the basic technical knowledge, skills and attitudes in order to practice effectively. Courses have been integrated and presented into six (6) semesters in such a way that trainees will build professional knowledge. This will be consolidated during internship and hands on the job practice. The program has been designed with due consideration of the legal requirement means and policy frame work of the relevant ministries.

Course Objectives

• To enable students acquire knowledge and skills as well as techniques in news gathering.
• To enable students appreciate infiltration needs of the heterogeneous audience.
• To enable students use and adapt to the dynamic media technology in the media technology in the practice of their profession.

NOTE:
The Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication is a three year course, based on a semester system, leading to the award of Journalism and Mass Communication. It strongly emphasizes media practice as it relates to theory locally and globally.

(Source: Ndejje University website)