A new kind of facility
In her 2012 address to Journalism & Media Studies students, Primedia Broadcasting Group Editor in Chief, Katy Katotpodis, spoke about the new reality of 360 degree multimedia reporting, where news stories are collated and disseminated across multiple simultaneous platforms. Media analyst, Kerry Northrup, writes about "newsrooms that work across multiple, integrated media, with a news story composed of a multiplicity of elements distributed through many channels". And while terms like “the i-generation” proliferate, the point is that newsrooms in the information age are evolving dramatically – as must the skills and knowledge base of the people who staff them.
The requirement, then, is for media leaders of today and tomorrow who understand how to navigate the complexities, and extract the huge benefits, of new systems, spaces, technologies and opportunities. That is why the Africa Media Matrix was custom-designed in line with these considerations – making possible a range of teaching and research opportunities that are currently not available anywhere on the African continent.
The infrastructure of the Africa Media Matrix thus embodies maximum intelligence, as well as state-of-the-art environmental and ergonomic considerations that utilize natural light and heat. It houses cutting edge technical facilities and equipment across all media disciplines - providing the best 360 degree holistic education in media as it has become. .
With everything from broadcast studios, to newsrooms and computer labs, the Africa Media Matrix is one of the most advanced journalism teaching facilities in the world – an outstanding resource that will be a critical cog in the initiatives to make this the African Century - a symbol of hope and a facilitator of thought, skill and action in cementing the role of media in Africa’s revival.
