“We focus on innovative media business models, digital journalism, data journalism, mis/disinformation, fact- checking and media and information literacy. As part of our recurriculation drive, we intend to introduce courses like media innovation and entrepreneurship, science communication, disinformation studies and fact-checking in the digital age.” The Department has various goals for the medium to long term. These include deepening research excellence, broadening course offerings, decolonising the curriculum, and forging international and Pan-African partnerships. Mare says the Department is keen on improving its student satisfaction levels and increasing the undergraduate and postgraduate success rates and throughputs. “We envisage a situation where our department is considered a centre of excellence and is recognised as the pre-eminent place for postgraduate supervision and training in Africa.” While keeping an eye on the future, the Department – home to some of Africa’s most highly cited media and communication scholars – is already making its mark. Some students have received awards for excellent research and scooped internships for outstanding writing and production skills. Others have partnered with students from Canada and Jamaica to co-create socially impactful media outputs. Student-centred and team-oriented Student-centred, team-oriented and research-intensive, the Department of Communication and Media Studies hosts highly accomplished senior research associates who teach and research at some of the best institutions in the world. Its lecturers boast prestigious grants from organisations such as the European Research Council (ERC), British Academy (BA), Ford Foundation, Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and Luminate. They are part of a unique pool of theory and practically-oriented scholars. Mare, recently appointed an international engagement editor of Digital Journalism, a global pre-eminent journal in journalism and media studies, says he and his staff thrive on teamwork. “We allow our unique abilities to shine through matching our roles with our special talents. The Department is run based on meritocracy, diversity, inclusion and equity,” concludes Mare.
Having become an agile researcher and lecturer because of this dynamic field, he aims to instil critical thinking and the ability to analyse, produce and synthesise information into his students, along with practical communication and digital skills and essential theoretical knowledge about media, to equip them with the competencies needed to create and develop media content across a range of platforms. Early in 2021, the Department of Communication and the Department of Journalism, Film and Television merged into the new Department of Communication and Media. “With the merger came a new major called Communication and Media (CAM). More than combined courses, CAM emerged from discussions regarding the future of communication and media studies and journalism practice. “Technological advancements are changing mediascapes as we know them. We have responded to this rapid change with courses that help students become content producers with a wide range of skills and knowledge,” he explains. The courses include journalism writing, script writing, editing and production, interviewing, photography, camera work, research, public speaking, and presentation skills – all essential for anyone interested in a career in journalism, film, television, radio, media and communication. Prof Mare said that to prepare students for their future work and the reality of the media environment, the department works closely with several stakeholders. “We are working on our strategy to make our graduates employable, which entails foregrounding work-integrated learning. “At the moment, we are partnering with ABN (owners of CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa), the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and other media organisations to expose our graduates to the coal face of the media industry. “We are reaching out to various newspapers, magazines and content creators so that they can assist our students with internships.” Credibility and fact-checking Acknowledging that the media are experiencing a tough time, losing credibility amidst accusations of secret agendas, untrustworthiness, fake news, and faulty and one-sided reporting, Mare says the department is working hard to counter that perception by teaching course content that addresses some of these issues.
2024 Honours students attending an orientation workshop on campus
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