Journalists often take on managerial responsibilities in newsrooms and studios but few have the appropriate skills or experience.
Responding to this demand, Wits University’s journalism programme will next year introduce a master’s degree focusing on media management, says Anton Harber, Caxton professor of journalism and media studies.
People became journalists ‘because they love to write and report, but they suddenly find they are becoming editors, section editors or producers and have to start to manage people, budgets, projects and editorial strategies when they have may never have done this before”.
The Wits journalism programme this year ran a one-semester course in media management. Modules in the new master’s programme will address generic management skills and know- ledge and will deal with ‘specific skills for a media professional”, Harber says. A research report will be a workplace-based piece of original research into a relevant media management issue or development.
‘Students will interact with senior and experienced media managers, a number of whom are eager to help contribute to this important development,” Harber says.
Also available will be a post- graduate diploma for students who want to do the three courses without the research report. And students may also do each module on its own as a certificate course.
The course is being run as part of a partnership between Wits and the United Kingdom’s University of Northumbria, which has experience in management courses of this type. Northumbria and Wits have set up a joint Centre for Cultural Policy and Management.
‘Students will be working closely with others doing related studies in the fields of arts and culture management, and heri- tage and tourism management — and this should provide a very rich experience for students,” Harber says.
Interested students can visit the programme website at www.journalism.co.za or contact the programme manager, Justine Dangor, at (011) 717 4617 or e-mail [email protected]. — Witsnews