Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation (EMMLI)
First Supervisor/Advisor
Prof. Florence Muindi
Department
Graduate School of Media and Communications
Abstract
In Journalism Schools, industrial attachment is an integral part of media education, offering students valuable opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and gain practical skills necessary for successful careers in the media industry. It is an essential part of an academic programme where students augment the practical skills learnt in school in an actual work environment. This study examined the contribution of industrial attachment in journalism, with a focus on arguably Kenya’s leading media organization, Royal Media Services, which has three television stations and 12 radio stations. The objective of the study was to assess the structure of industrial attachment for journalism students, examine opportunities industrial attachment programmes offer journalism students and employers, establish challenges students and employers face under current industrial attachment programmes and develop a framework for industrial attachment for journalism students. The research explored the structure of the industrial attachment program, opportunities offered to the students to equip them with practical skills, assessed the extent to which the program contributed to the development of professionalism, competencies and employability among the students who underwent a three-month program at the organization and assessed the evaluation criteria and training guidelines across the different platforms at the Royal Media Services. The study used survey questionnaires and interview guides. The survey questionnaires were administered to students on industrial attachment. On the other hand, the editors and journalism school supervisors were interviewed using semi-structured interviews to establish students’ and supervisors’ interaction in the practice of industrial attachment.
Recommended Citation
Lakicha, Y. A. (2024). An analysis of the contribution of industrial attachment in journalism training in Kenya: challenges and opportunities for an effective framework (Unpublished master's dissertation). Aga Khan University, East Africa.