Today, Journalism students from the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK) and East African University Rwanda (EAUR) have completed a five day mentorship focused on podcasting and documentary production.
The training, which began on September 7 and concluded on September 11, provided students with an opportunity to connect classroom knowledge with practical skills in modern journalism, particularly in audio and documentaries.
The mentorship was led by Swedish journalist Jon Thunqvist, who said the main objective was to equip young journalists with practical skills that would help them improve their work and prepare for their future careers.
“The training was designed to equip young journalism students with more knowledge and skills so that they can become good journalists in the future,” Thunqvist said.
He encouraged students to combine academic learning with regular practice and to learn from experienced journalists.
“A lot of practice is what helps you learn and become a better journalist. It is important to study, but it is also important to learn from journalists who came before you and do their work well,” he said.
For the participants, the training offered more than technical lessons. It provided practical tools for telling stories in ways that can better engage and connect with today’s audiences.
For Henriette Muhawenimana, an EAUR student who participated in the training, the mentorship changed the way she approaches news stories.
“Before, I mainly focused on the words and the information I needed to deliver,” she said.
“The training taught me that the structure of a story, sound, visuals and the way information is gathered all play an important role in making a story reach the audience effectively,” she added.
At ICK, journalism student Fabrice Mutuyimana said the sessions gave him a better understanding of podcast production, from developing an idea to recording and editing audio.
“The training helped me better understand how a podcast is produced, from developing an idea and conducting an interview to recording and editing audio,” he said.
He added that the experience had given him greater confidence to produce high quality podcasts and apply his classroom knowledge to practical journalism.
For Uhozabe Charline, the documentary production sessions helped her identify mistakes she had previously made without realizing them.
“I used to make documentaries and make different mistakes, both in gathering information and editing it, without knowing that they were mistakes,” she said.
“The training helped me identify those mistakes and learn better ways of improving my work,” she explained.
The training in podcasting and documentary production was organized by the Fojo Media Institute from Sweeden, through its Rwanda Media Programme.
Story by Meghan Teta Iribagiza