By Nicole Nankya
Prof. Ripley Lawrence Smith, a visiting professor at Uganda Christian University [UCU] ‘s School of Journalism, Media and Communication Bethel Christian University has advised journalism students to stick to the elements of good storytelling,
In the wake of changing technology and journalism practices : “when you go out in the field the software will change but what will still remain are the elements of good storytelling no matter what channel you talking to.” Said Smith.
He was sharing words of wisdom with UCU media students and UCU Standard newspaper journalists, in order to enable them to be better journalists in a changing digital world.
In a podcast hosted by The Standard’s Derrick Muduku, Smith emphasized that they should embrace new technological and audience trends. He encouraged journalists to get acquainted with audio production skills.
“In the United States of America students no longer listen to radio. Podcasts are what they listen to” said Smith .
Smith came to UCU’s School of Journalism following an invitation by the Dean Prof .Monica Chibita to do some seminars with the graduating students in the school.
“Knowing that UCU has good journalism and mass communication programs which is my area, I thought why not only explore partnerships with UCU, while also doing seminars with the graduating students of the school,” Smith added.
He went ahead to outline some of the benefits his university can offer to UCU such as student exchange programs, research avenues and story telling programmes.
He also hopes to produce a magazine with the help of the students, this is a practicality of his story telling programmes which involves faculty and students of his university travelling out to various countries such as Morocco, and working with the local community to co- produce a magazine and create stories . He believes this will enable cooperation between the students of the two universities ( Bethel and UCU).
” We work together to produce and create stories so as to produce a magazine, this is one of the areas students can come and work with each other”, he said.
Prof. Smith Ripley Lawrence currently works as Chair of the department of communication studies, Bethel University ( Minnesota) which awarded him a sabbatical that enabled him come to UCU.