Safeguarding the African story: Africa University opens recruitment for the four-year Bachelor of Arts Honours in Media and Journalism for the August 2023 intake

The continent, through,  Africa University (AU), has been afforded a tailor- made programme that caters to the holistic needs of journalism and media studies in Africa through the launch of the accredited Bachelor of Arts Honours in Journalism and Media which is a cut above the rest. This unique, hands-on degree was borne from comprehensive industrial consultations with leading media houses and civil society media organisations in Africa, coupled with the flexibility and versatility of AU’s premier teaching facilities, to offer the best practical training with the inclusion of seasoned media experts. The programme strongly emphasises co–teaching with industry expertise to expose students to the real world of work before they go on industrial attachment I the third year of study, also equipping them with entrepreneurship skills capitalizing on digital information technology to accelerate the creation of African media startups.

The Bachelor of Arts Honors in Journalism and Media comes at a time that Africa University has invested in the best digital broadcast journalism studio in Zimbabwe and arguably the region,setting a world class standard that provides students with global competencies.

In a world where journalism products are losing credibility due to misinformation, disinformation, fake news and, more importantly, where the appetite for negative information is fast becoming the norm, Africa University has deliberately included courses on fact-checking and peace and developmental journalism to shape the news narrative and restore hope and trust in media products. A student enrolling in the programme stands to benefit from a technologically rich ecosystem which will make them thrive in addition to the institutions’ student-centered approach.

Spearheaded by the visionary leadership of the university’s Vice Chancellor, Reverend Professor Peter Mageto and his management  team, the degree has a focus on Africa , its role as a media and content producer, and aims to shift the perspectives and stories coming from the continent to those embedded in, and realistic of, the African experience. Ensuring exceptional quality in teaching and learning, the programme will be led by Zimbabwe’s most sought-after journalism training experts who hold a proven track record of training journalists practising in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa and beyond. The two leads of the programme are Dr Wellington Gadzikwa and Dr Alexander Rusero, whose experiences and linkages will significantly benefit students in dissecting pertinent issues in the media. In addition, diverse experts drawn from the continent will be part of this brilliant programme.