UFH Communication Department empowers its students for the future

As part of its ongoing effort to produce graduates who are industry ready, the UFH Department of Communication presented its Honours students with the opportunity to interact with Journalists and Editors from the Daily Dispatch during a visit to the newspaper's newsroom in Beacon Bay, East London.

The visit comes less than a month after the cohort of students produced their first student newspaper - FortExpress.

According to The Head of the Department, Dr Kevin Onyenankeya, the visit forms part of their efforts to provide students with hands-on training and exposure to career opportunities in the communication and media industry.

During their visit, the students were received by the News Editor, Yanga Soji, who gave them a tour of the newsroom and walked the students through the nitty-gritty of journalism work.

The students interacted with several reporters and were later addressed by the Editor, Cheri-Ann James; Deputy Editor, Bongani Fuzile; Content Manager, Enerst Mhlanga and Audience Development and Special Projects Manager, Dominic Peel.

Addressing the students, the Editor reiterated the professional qualities and personal attributes needed to succeed in a journalism career, including attention to detail and passion for the job, adding that there were excellent job opportunities with good prospects for students who want to pursue a career in journalism.

The Deputy Editor, Bongani Fuzile, encouraged the students to start building their story portfolios immediately. He urged them to take a cue from former Daily Dispatch senior reporters such as Mayibongwe Maqhina and Bonisile Ndaliso who graduated from the UFH Communication Department.

 Dr Kevin who initiated the visit thanked the editorial team for the warm reception and for sparing time to interact with the students.

"It was an exciting learning experience that the students will cherish. The pep talk has inspired my students, and I hope this is the beginning of long-term synergies between our Department and the Newspaper," he added.’

Source: UFH Communications Department