The Future Journalism Programme’s decision to cast their net wider and deeper into the African continent has attracted very enthusiastic responses. After an invitation was sent out to students in West African countries to apply for participation in the FJP programme, three students took this invitation seriously.
Sophiane Bengeloun from Senegal Cesti University, Peter Okosun from Lagos Polytechnic in Nigeria and Selina Bebaako-Mensah from Ghana were among the 18 second-year journalism students that attended the FJP winter school between 1 and 10 July. Their two-week visit involved training workshops as well as reporting on new media platforms about the National Arts Festival held in Grahamstown.
Bengeloun, who co-ordinates her school blog said although she is not fluent in English, communication was not a barrier. “I understand everything people say but I can’t speak and respond. Some people understood and spoke slowly.” She also learnt how to manage groups and group discussion on a blog.
Bebaako-Mensah said she expected more theory but she discovered it was highly practical work. Okosun said: “I learnt new media for the first time and how to write on the internet. I also learnt how to go out and look for news.”
Moagisi Letlhaku, FJP co-ordinator, said: “From the beginning we have wanted to make FJP pan-African. This year we approached OSIWA (Open Society Institute for West Africa) to fund five students, and fortunately, we got three.”
Letlhaku believes this is a step in the right direction as Highway Africa which mothers FJP is also pan-African. Sim Kyazze, a JMS writing and editing lecturer facilitated this experiential learning winter school with workshops, blogging and multimedia reporting exercises. The next FJP event will be during Highway Africa Conference in September.