Journalism students want media owners to stop recruiting non-professionals

A section of journalism students have cried out to media owners to stop employing unprofessional personnel in the name of talent.

Speaking at the launch of the 2023 media fest at Africa Renewal University (ARU) on October 24, the students said employers are turning to 'cheap' influencers to avoid the costs of paying professional journalists.

“We go through this education sector with high tuition costs in hopes that we are to be employed in our respective professions but only to compete with the so called social media unprofessional content creators. This in the result has rendered many of us jobless yet we put in a lot of time and tuition to be recognized as learned people. We even have the talents they're traversing amongst comedians and 'TikTokers',” Mr Ivan Ssozi, a student of ARU said.

A female student who was part-timing in one of the radio stations in Kampala said that her employers chose to fire them and hire TikTok comedians.

“The director preferred employing TikTokers than us professionals who helped him build his station brand, even when the general manager opted for a resignation, it didn't move the boss who preferred employing these cheap unprofessionals,” she said.

Mr Ronald Muteesa, another student of ARU called upon the government, through its regulators, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and the Media Council, to implement laws and provide guidelines on who can be a journalist and leader in the newsroom.

“You see when one uses the airwaves and acts unprofessionally, society will be quick to judge the entire journalism fraternity. We yearn for the days when UCC and other regulators will help not only issue strict guidelines in times of politics but also streamline practitioners," he said.

In response to their plea, the Shadow Minister for Information, Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa who officiated the inauguration asked the students to remain professional because comedians despite infiltrating the profession, will never take over their roles.

“Behave in a manner that reflects the career you chose to pursue as we [legislators] push efforts of streamlining the industry,” she said.

“Widen your knowledge base not to tie yourself to one thing. Do not say, I want to anchor that's all. Media is competitive out there. Ensure that you are well versed with everything; broadcast, print, photography, production...These will give you more competitive advantages,” she added.

Meanwhile, the students celebrated four deceased media professionals for their inspiration including; former NTV reporter Rosemary Nankabirwa, former UBC news anchor Francis Bbale and a veteran radio host Daniel Kyazze who equally succumbed to cancer in 2015, and former WBS TV news anchor Nuliat Nambaziira who died in 2018, whom they said contributed a lot towards the profession.

The head of Journalism and Multimedia Communication Department at ARU, Ms Oliver Taremwa said the students were fully engaged in choosing the programs of the media fest and they decided to honor these heroes in the profession.

The climax of the media fest will be held on November 7 where the students will showcase all their skills in print, broadcast and multimedia.