Students of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) are calling for the establishment of a well-equipped media studio to provide them with more opportunities for practical training.

The Department of Journalism and Media Studies offers students theoretical knowledge in areas such as radio and television production, news writing, reporting, presentation and media production. However, students say the absence of a dedicated studio for regular practical lessons makes it difficult for them to apply some of the concepts they learn in class.

According to some students, much of their training involves lectures and discussions about how media programmes are produced, while opportunities to actually practise broadcasting and production are limited. They believe that knowing the theory of radio or television production is not enough to prepare them fully for work in the media industry.

A properly equipped studio would provide students with the opportunity to practise skills such as news presentation, radio production, television production, interviewing, podcasting, camera operation, sound recording and programme production. It would also give students the chance to make mistakes, receive corrections from lecturers and improve their skills before entering the professional world.

The concern comes at a time when media organisations increasingly expect graduates to have practical skills in addition to academic qualifications. Journalists are required to work with cameras, microphones, editing software and digital platforms, while also being able to gather, verify and present information effectively.

Students believe that establishing a functional studio would therefore strengthen the Journalism and Media Studies programme at UEW. The facility could be used as a practical laboratory where students produce news bulletins, radio programmes, interviews, documentaries and other media content under the supervision of lecturers.

The Communication and Media Studies Students Association (COMSSA) could also provide a platform for students to engage the department and university authorities on the issue and explore possible ways of improving practical training.

While students recognise the importance of theoretical knowledge, they argue that theory and practice should go hand in hand. Classroom lessons can provide the principles and concepts of journalism, but practical training allows students to understand how those principles work in real media situations.
For Journalism and Media Studies students at UEW, the call is therefore not simply for a new facility but for greater opportunities to practise the profession they are being trained to enter.

A dedicated and well-equipped media studio could help bridge the gap between learning journalism in the classroom and practising journalism in the real world.