Lekan Otufodunrin writes on his experience with Mass Communication students who don’t know enough of the profession.
I meet them regularly. They come looking for internship opportunities while in school or jobs when they graduate.
“Do you read newspapers?” I usually ask whenever I decide to drill them. Their responses usually betrayed most of them no matter how hard they try to cover up for their “unpardonable sin” of not being familiar with the industry they want to work.
Some claim they read online. No problem, but ask about the details of a trending major story, they don’t know beyond the headline they saw on a Facebook post or Twitter.
“Why are you studying Mass Communication?” I asked a student during the week “I like the profession. I like to talk,” she replied. Let’s assume talking is the same as broadcasting. What radio station does she listen to and which one is her favourite,? I asked further.
You won’t believe her response “I don’t listen to radio stations.” Good enough she watches television programmes but her favourite is Super story!. Not any major serious news programme.
My counsel to Mass Communication students and graduates and anyone who wants to have a career in the media; Read newspapers and magazines {online if you like}, watch major television programmes and listen to radio programmes too with all your heart to know what the job entails.
Many websites and blogs have good contents aspiring journalists can learn from. There is more to social media than social matters. They are professional tools any aspiring journalist should learn to use professionally.