Sweat and Fun as Media Students exhibit Journalistic Skills

In an industry that demands practical skills, one ought to keep up with seasoned practitioners to ascertain whether they are meeting market demands or not.

That, perhaps, was the main reason why students turned out in droves for the fourth edition of the media and cultural gala at the UMCAT School of Journalism in Nakulabye, Kampala, last Friday.

Before the gala, the students were tasked with observing practising journalists and then presenting their own craft before a panel of judges. The activities included radio and television news reading and reporting, presentation, photography, video making and editing as well as newswriting.

The students sweated with words and action. Imitating a practising journalist was unacceptable. The judges, Capital FM's Jackie Lumbasi, NBS's Olivia Bagala and CBS's Zambali Mukasa, were quick to tell off whoever imitated a radio or TV presenter.

One had the choice to use either English or an indigenous language as their mode of communication during their presentations.

The competition was stiff with over 60 contestants. A few outstanding performers, such as Rodney Sejjoba, the best news anchor English, walked away with job placement opportunities, apprenticeship programmes and other awards.

The other activities that students engaged in at the gala included modelling, disco-jockeying, dance and original composition singing. Since not everyone in media school will become journalist, these other activities gave room for the students to explore their other talents.  

The climax of the gala was the crowning the queens and kings of the institute.