The University of Media Arts and Communication’s (UniMAC) School of Journalism and Media Studies (SOJAMS) at its Institute of Journalism (IJ), held a practical training session aimed at bridging the gap between classroom learning and professional practice. The training session, the first in a series planned for the year, is set to equip students with essential skills for the media industry.
The first session was held on Friday, March 27, 2026, on the theme, “Journalism in the Contemporary Age: News Gathering, News Writing, News Casting, and Multimedia Story telling”, featured ace broadcaster and TV3 New Day co-host, Ms. Beatrice Adu. She delivered a thought-provoking presentation on the growing influence of social media in modern journalism.
Moderating the programme to its successful end was the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UniMAC’s Institute of Journalism (IJ), Ms. Norleta Duah. An alumna of UniMAC- IJ, she recounted her personal experience as a student and how the guest lecturing series added immense value to her academic work.
Delivering the welcome address, the Dean of SOJAMS, Prof. Etse Sikanku, underscored the importance of practical training, describing the session as a key complement to what students learn in the lecture halls at UniMAC. He stressed the need for hands-on training experience in shaping effective media practitioners.
Prof. Sikanku noted that, “It is not about getting a first-class degree. A first-class degree can show that you think, and you can make sense of an event. But can you apply that in a real-world setting?” He encouraged students to attend training sessions, reminding them that this is how they develop the key competencies and industry-relevant skills.
The guest speaker for the session, Ms. Beatrice Adu, in her presentation highlighted the growing relevance of social media, describing it as a form of “currency” in today’s media landscape. She noted that many individuals leverage digital platforms to create content and generate income. However, she cautioned that credibility must remain central to all media practice. “Build your socials, and thank me later; but be credible, because that comes with it,” she advised.
Ms. Adu further urged students to take advantage of digital tools, to verify information before publication, stressing accuracy is the core pillar of journalism. “We should be able to talk about what the problem is and verify it as journalist,” she said.
Students asked questions and the guest speaker answered them with in-depth practical personal experiences as a journalist. Adding on to her guide for students, Ms. Adu cautioned that journalists would encounter ethical challenges in the course of their work. “Students, remain steadfast in upholding professional standards always”, Ms. Adu urged UniMAC students.
The practicality of the session was evident in how Ms. Adu shared insights from her professional journey, recounting how she started her career and the steps she took to develop and refine her skills over time. The practical training session saw the seminar room filled to capacity by first year students. Their curiosity and quest for knowledge was demonstrated by how closely they followed the presentation, and took notes of salient points, as they were introduced to key areas such as news casting, news gathering, news writing and storytelling.
The next guest speaker for the second edition of the UniMAC-SOJAMS practical sessions is the award-winning journalist Ms. Portia Gabor. She is expected expose students further to practical industry experience beyond the lecture halls by speaking on the topic, “News Reading and Reporting”.
UniMAC is a specialised University set up to train students in practical media, arts and communication. Initiatives such as these offer students continuous exposure to practical insights and experiences, further preparing them to meet the demands of the media industry.
Drafted By:
Mitchell Asare Amoamah