Kampala International University (KIU) emerged victorious at the National Newsroom Contest, securing top positions in both the English and Luganda bulletins. The competition, hosted at the MCI Media Hub on Friday 15th November, 2024 , showcased emerging journalism talent from across Uganda's universities and institutions.
The Contest, which featured eight universities and journalism institutes, tested the next generation of journalists' prowess in news reporting, anchoring and news delivery skills. The competing institutions included Uganda Christian University, Uganda Martyrs University, YMCA, Ndejje University, Victoria University, St Lawrence University, Kampala International University and Makerere Institute of Social Development.
This year's contest was under the themes of two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): "Decent Work and Economic Growth" (SDG 8) and "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions" (SDG 16). The participants demonstrated their ability to craft compelling stories around these crucial Sustainable Development Goals.
The event drew expertise from distinguished media professionals serving as on the panel of judges, including former NBS TV anchor Rukh-Shana Kitaka, NTV Uganda’s Williams Kato, Sandra Nakiwala, Linda Kibombo, Walter Mwesigye and acclaimed BBC journalist Nancy Kacungira to ensure the high professional standards in evaluation and constructive feedback sharing.
Addressing the significance of youth representation in media, our team lead Abaas Mpindi highlighted a pressing concern: "The media has an age problem. Despite young people forming the majority of the population, they are invisible in the media—neither as storytellers, sources, nor experts." He challenged the industry to reflect on this disparity, questioning why media demographics fail to mirror the predominantly young population in Uganda and Africa at large.
Since its inception in 2013, the Inter-University Media Challenge (now National Newsroom Contest) has served as a launching pad for numerous successful media professionals. The competition continues to play a vital role in bridging the gap between academic journalism training and professional practice.
The journey isn't over for this year's outstanding performers, who will receive recognition at our Media Challenge Awards ceremony scheduled for December 13, 2024. This event will celebrate their achievements and mark another milestone in the next generation of journalists’ budding media careers.
The dual victory by KIU not only highlights the institution's excellence in journalism education but also underscores the importance of multilingual competency in Uganda's diverse media landscape. As the contest continues to evolve, it remains a crucial platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of journalists and storytellers who will shape the future of journalism in Uganda.
This MCI Mobile Newsroom was in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stftung in Uganda and South Sudan, DW Akademie, Segal Family Foundation, Sumz Snacks, Recap Brandhouse, JFrigh Hotel, and Advantage Pearl Media.