Journalism Education Against All Odds An Evaluative Study of the Undergraduate Mass Communication Programme at Makerere University Florence Namasinga Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Master of Philosophy Degree in Media Studies Institute of Media and Communication University of Oslo Spring 2011 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... ix List of Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................ x CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1.0 Makerere University ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Department of Mass Communication ................................................................................................................ 2 1.2 The Media Environment in Uganda ................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.1 Newspaper Media ............................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.2 Electronic Media..................................................................................................................................................5 1.2.3 Journalism and Education in Uganda .............................................................................................................. 6 1.3 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Objectives of the Study ......................................................................................................................................... 9 1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Significance of the Study .....................................................................................................................................10 1.7 Scope of the Study ...............................................................................................................................................10 1.8 Thesis Structure ....................................................................................................................................................10 CHAPTER TWO JOURNALISM AND EDUCATION 2.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................13 2.1 History of Journalism Education.......................................................................................................................13 2.1.1 Journalism Education Models.........................................................................................................................15 2.2 Journalism Education Standards .......................................................................................................................17 2.2.1 Benchmarks for Teaching Journalism at Undergraduate Level.................................................................18 2.2.2 The UNESCO Model Curriculum .................................................................................................................19 2.2.3 Challenges Facing Journalism Education ......................................................................................................21 iii 2.3 Journalism Education in Africa .........................................................................................................................23 CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................25 3.1 Triangulation .........................................................................................................................................................25 3.2 The Qualitative Research Process .....................................................................................................................26 3.2.1 Comparative Study Design ..............................................................................................................................26 3.2.2 In-depth Interviews ..........................................................................................................................................27 3.2.3 Focus Group Discussions ...............................................................................................................................28 3.2.4 Document Analysis...........................................................................................................................................29 3.2.5 Observation .......................................................................................................................................................29 3.3 Study Population ..................................................................................................................................................30 3.4 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................................................31 3.5 Validity ...................................................................................................................................................................31 3.6 Fieldwork Procedure ...........................................................................................................................................31 3.7 Challenges Faced ..................................................................................................................................................32 CHAPTER FOUR DESCRIPTION OF JOURNALISM EDUCATION AT MAK 4.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................33 4.1 The Mass Communication Programme ...........................................................................................................33 4.1.1 Admission to the Programme .........................................................................................................................34 4.1.2 The Curriculum .................................................................................................................................................36 4.1.3 Description of Course Units Offered ............................................................................................................38 4.1.4 Areas of Specialisation .....................................................................................................................................41 4.1.5 Mode of Teaching .............................................................................................................................................44 4.1.6 Internship and Practical Work Experience ...................................................................................................45 4.1.7 Assessment of Students ...................................................................................................................................47 4.1.8 Collaboration with the Media Industry .........................................................................................................48 iv 4.2 Gaps in the Curriculum and the Training ........................................................................................................49 4.2.1 Print in Relation to Other Media ...................................................................................................................50 4.2.2 Community and Rural Media...........................................................................................................................51 4.2.3 Journalism and Public Relations .....................................................................................................................52 4.2.4 Courses on New Media ....................................................................................................................................52 4.2.5 Optional Courses ..............................................................................................................................................54 4.3.6 Theory in Relation to Practice ........................................................................................................................55 4.3 Challenges Faced at the Department ................................................................................................................57 4.3.1 Teaching and Reading Materials .....................................................................................................................59 4.3.2 Lecturers as Teaching Resources....................................................................................................................61 4.4 Perceptions on Fresh Graduates of the Programme ......................................................................................65