At last, 2012 is here, with the remnants of 2011 falling away behind us. The past four years
of FJP have seen many FJP alumni unleash their potential with some achieving great
things. This year, the programme seeks for even better achievements.
of FJP have seen many FJP alumni unleash their potential with some achieving great
things. This year, the programme seeks for even better achievements.
REFLECTION of FJP 2011
Last year, the programme boasted a dynamic group of 20 students from 10 institutions around South Africa. Reflecting on our achievements, we are happy to announce that FJP has been granted a Rhodes University Short Course status. This saw the 20 FJPs receive a
competency certificate at the end of their FJP year, which included intense
workshops on how to use a simple device as a cell phone and editing freeware to
produce material for multimedia broadcasting platforms.
FJP2012
This year, FJP focuses more
on development and innovation in media. The theme for the Autumn school being
Radio, podcasting and good old writing, taking place on the 8th- 14th
April 2012! The idea is to introduce the students to radio broadcasting, how to
use ICTs in radio, whilst not forgetting the fundamentals of journalism and writing.
This is the first time that the programme has focussed on radio. The students will interact with online publishing platforms, posting podcasts and accompanying stories to the different
Highway Africa platforms. The main idea of this intense Autumn School is to demystify new media to students, whilst still teaching them the fundamentals of traditional radio journalism writing. It is also to show them that journalists do not need expensive equipment in order to produce content for broadcast. Equipped with a mobile phone with image, video and sound functionality, editing freeware plus internet connections, 21st-century-journalists have no
excuse for not disseminating information.
This year’s programme also focuses in creating synergies at more collaborations with other youth
programmes, one of which is the Grocott’s Mail Upstart. Upstart is a local youth development project aimed at youth in Grades 8 to 10 based in Grahamstown. It was founded in 2008 as a way of responding to the low levels of literacy which was evident in school performance and the poor matric pass rate.
Upstart involves the youth in journalism writing and publishing, promoting a culture of literacy and reading and writing development. It also fosters inter-school communication, breaking down racial, cultural and language divide whilst and developing leadership skills amongst the youth through running weekly workshops at each school.
These are the kinds of collaborations that are meaningful for the programme, that we believe will
further expand the programme’s reach.
As we venture into yet another exciting FJP year, we thank our sponsors, the Open Society Foundation South Africa (OSF) for the faith in the work FJP does. We also thank the various institutions which we have collaborated with and the past participants you for their enthusiasm about FJP, and the time and care invest each year into the future of all FJPs.
