Kigali, June 4, During the Advisory Board meeting, the Rwanda Media Programme pledged ongoing support to major media houses, emerging media outlets, and journalism schools across four universities.
The meeting assessed the achievements of the Rwanda Media Programme over the past three years and outlined priorities for the next two years.
Attendees included journalists, leaders of journalists’ associations, lecturers, and students from the four universities partnered with the Fojo Media Institute through the Rwanda Media Programme. They highlighted significant progress in capacity building and professional development while recognizing areas that still need improvement.
Media outlets reported ongoing needs for better equipment access and further professional development opportunities.
Representatives from the four universities with journalism departments—Institut Catholique de Kabgayi, University of Rwanda, Mount Kigali University, and East African University Rwanda—identified issues such as insufficient equipment and the need for enhanced skills among some lecturers, especially in digital journalism.
The discussion emphasized the importance of promoting exchange programs among local and regional universities to facilitate mutual learning and collaboration.
Students involved in gender clubs, environmental initiatives, and student magazines expressed the need for continued support in areas such as funding, press card identification, specialized training, internships, and practical learning opportunities.
In an interview with ICK News, Emeline Dufatanye, a student at East African University Rwanda, stated, “We as students have identified the challenges we face and we hope they will be resolved.”
Annelie Frank, the National Coordinator of the Rwanda Media Programme, welcomed the feedback and acknowledged the challenges presented.
She assured that these would be considered in future project planning. Some proposals, such as financial support for student magazines, are already in the pipeline.
“There is a small budget prepared to help students in field reporting,” she noted.
Annelie also mentioned that new ideas from the meeting would be discussed and incorporated to further enhance the journalism landscape in Rwanda.
The Fojo Media Institute, through the Rwanda Media Programme, has been supporting Rwanda’s media and journalism schools since 2021. The five-year initiative aims to equip them with the necessary skills and equipment to thrive in the evolving media environment.
