Tuesday, 14 April 2009

The University of the Witwatersrand is launching the Wits Radio Academy, which will be offering a new Advanced Certificate in Radio. The core offering of the academy, situated in the university’s journalism programme, will be the Wits Advanced Radio Certificate, aimed at people hoping to enter the field, as well as people already working who want to deepen their skills. Bursaries are available for students from community radio.

Seven two-week modules are planned, in areas such as Radio Studies; Local Radio Journalism; Management; Programming and Production; Presentation; Marketing and sales; Radio goes Online; and Management. Students will have to complete five modules in order to obtain the advanced certificate. The modules can also be taken on their own.

The university has signed a contract with Kagiso Media to cover the company’s three-year support for the academy. The statutory Media Development and Diversity Agency is already in support.

With the funding now becoming available, the university will be able to revive its campus radio station, Voice of Wits. The station will not only offer an avenue for students to gain exposure to the world of radio, it will also play a central role in ensuring that the new advanced certificate offers extensive exposure to practical skills.

Prof Anton Harber, head of the Wits journalism programme, said: “We are very excited by the new venture, and are very pleased that both Kagiso Media and the MDDA have seen its potential. We hope the academy can play an important role in strengthening all sectors of radio, particularly community radio, which continues to play a crucial role in South Africa.”

He added that the academy would be able to make use of the university’s intellectual resources, its access to established players in the radio industry as well as the campus station to offer unique training and other support to the sector. Research, internships and short work experience are also on the academy’s programme.

“We have been overwhelmed by the positive response from a wide range of people and organizations, even at this early stage,” said senior lecturer Franz Krüger, who teaches radio in the journalism programme. A range of further partnerships are being explored, which are likely to see the academy work outside South Africa as well.

The academy will be operating from a purpose-built facility, the Kagiso Media Radio Training Centre, which it will share with the station. The centre is still in development.

Click here for more details and application forms.

Inquiries: Franz Krüger, Senior lecturer in the Wits journalism programme.
Ph 082 903 4196