School of Journalism and Media Studies

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗠𝗔𝗖-𝗦𝗢𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗡 “𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘"

The School of Journalism and Media Studies (SOJAMS) at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), UNESCO Ghana, and the Centre for Global Development and Communication, will mark World Press Freedom Day 2026 with a high-level Public Lecture and Stakeholder Dialogue today.

The event, themed “Shaping a Future at Peace, Safeguarding Journalism in Ghana,” will be held at 10:00 AM at the Auditorium, UniMAC – South Legon Campus.

The dialogue brings together leading voices in academia and media to examine the state of press freedom and the role of journalism in sustaining peace in Ghana.

Key speakers include:
1. Prof. Kwame Karikari, veteran media advocate and former Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, who will deliver the keynote address.
2. Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah, Vice-Chancellor of UniMAC.
3. Prof. Christiana Hammond, Rector of the Institute of Journalism.
4. Prof. Etse Sikanku, Dean of the School of Journalism and Media Studies.

The event is held in collaboration with The Multimedia Group, Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), and JoyNews as media partners.

World Press Freedom Day, observed globally on May 3rd each year, celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluates press freedom worldwide, and defends the media from attacks on their independence. This year’s UniMAC-SOJAMS event extends the commemoration with a focus on Ghana’s media landscape amid growing concerns about journalist safety, misinformation, and the media’s role in national cohesion.

Students, journalists, civil society actors, and members of the public are expected to participate in the dialogue.

𝗝𝗢𝗠𝗦𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲

On Tuesday, 21st April 2026, our Journalism Media Students Association (JOMSA) President, Pascal Kasese, added his voice to a critical national conversation in the Daily Graphic.

Speaking on extending the “No Fees Stress” policy to private universities, Pascal noted:

“𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡.”

At School of Journalism and Media Studies (SOJAMS) - University of Media, Arts and Communication, we train students to think critically and contribute meaningfully to public discourse. We are proud to see our student leaders shaping policy conversations beyond the classroom.

𝘑𝘖𝘔𝘚𝘈 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝘚𝘖𝘑𝘈𝘔𝘚), 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘔𝘈𝘊.

UniMAC-SOJAMS opens call for papers ahead of inaugural media conference

The School of Journalism and Media Studies at UniMAC has issued a call for papers for the first State of Journalism, Media and Communication Conference (SJMCC) 2026.

The conference will be held at UniMAC from 15 to 16 July 2026. It aims to bring together academics, researchers, industry professionals, policymakers and students to discuss emerging issues in journalism and media.

Abstracts of 200-300 words must be submitted by 1 May 2026. Accepted authors will be notified by 15 May, with full papers due 15 June 2026.

Conference tracks include artificial intelligence and the media, misinformation, media ownership models, investigative journalism, and gender and the media.

Registration is open. Fees are GH₵300 for Ghanaian participants, $30 for international participants, and GH₵100 for students.

Enquiries: [email protected]

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗠𝗔𝗖-𝗦𝗢𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗦, 𝗦𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗠𝗔𝗖, 𝗦𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿

We are officially in a new chapter of global cooperation! Following our recently signed Memorandum of Understanding, UniMAC and Russian media giant Sputnik hosted an international online seminar on 26th February 2026.

The session, part of the SputnikPRO project, brought world-class insights directly into our classrooms, focusing on the principles of international cooperation for news agencies in the 21st century.

Speaking virtually from Russia, Vasily Pushkov, Sputnik’s Director for International Cooperation, addressed our students with high regard. He defined the term "journalist" in what he called an "elitist" sense, referring specifically to those who, like our students, study the craft as a science, an art, and a trade.

One of the most striking parts of the lecture was the discussion on the "huge comeback" of radio. While many assume radio is just for commuters stuck in traffic, Mr. Pushkov revealed that research shows active listening across all demographics.

“Radio has made a comeback. A huge comeback,” he noted, though he cautioned that while relevance is up, audience growth remains a steady challenge for the industry.

Our Dean, Prof. Etse Sikanku, joined the session to remind us why these partnerships matter. He emphasized that engaging with global giants like Sputnik exposes our students to international best practices and a deeper understanding of how media operates beyond our borders.

For our first-year students immersed in the session, it was a firsthand look at the multimedia and social media strategies that drive news traffic today. We are proud to facilitate these cross-continental bridges that prepare our students for a truly global career.

𝗧𝗩𝟯'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘂 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳 𝗦𝗢𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

We have officially launched our practical training and mentorship series, bringing the industry's best directly to our students. On Friday, 27 March 2026, the School of Journalism and Media Studies (SOJAMS) hosted ace broadcaster and TV3 New Day co-host, Beatrice Adu, for an impactful opening session.

Addressing a capacity crowd at our South Legon campus, Ms. Adu urged our budding journalists to view social media as a form of professional "currency." In an era of instant news, Beatrice Adu emphasized that accuracy remains the non-negotiable pillar of journalism. She challenged students to move beyond just identifying problems and to master the art of verification.

“Build your social, and thank me later, but be credible, because that comes with it,” she advised. “We should be able to talk about what the problem is and verify it.”

Our Dean, Prof. Etse Sikanku, noted that these workshops are designed to bridge the gap between academic excellence and real-world application. He reminded the audience, mostly first-year students, that while a first-class degree proves you can think, the industry cares about whether you can do.

“A first-class degree shows you can make sense of an event," the Dean remarked. "But can you apply that in a real-world setting? That is why you chose to study journalism.”

The momentum doesn't stop here. We are excited to announce that award-winning journalist Portia Gabor is set to be our next guest as we continue to bring the newsroom into the classroom.

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗠𝗔𝗖-𝗦𝗢𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽

Our first-year journalism students took their studies beyond the lecture halls on 26 March 2026, with an immersive field trip to the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in Accra.

The visit served as a practical extension of their Introduction to Journalism course, giving our newest learners a front-row seat to the high-stakes world of professional news production.

The tour started at the Daily Graphic newsroom, where Mrs. Rebecca Quaicoe-Duho, Head of the Gender and Health Desk, walked the students through the daily grind. From the morning editorial meeting to the final selection of stories, the students learned that getting published is a merit-based process.

"You can be at Graphic for a month and not get your stories published," she noted, emphasizing that the News Editor holds the final say on what makes the front page.

Our students were introduced to the essential "gatekeepers" of journalism, including: editors, sub-editors and designers, the press house. The visit didn't stop at print; the delegation also toured the Graphic radio studio and sister publications like The Mirror and Graphic Sports. For many, it was a wake-up call to the teamwork and precision required in the industry.

"It was a rare opportunity," shared Emefa, one of the visiting students. "I got to experience the realities of newsroom operations and the demands of professional journalism firsthand."

At SOJAMS, we believe in bridging the gap between theory and practice. This trip is just the beginning of our commitment to ensuring our students are industry-ready from day one.

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗠𝗔𝗖-𝗦𝗢𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲
We were delighted to host a delegation from New York University (NYU) on 19 March 2026. Led by Professor Michael Funk from NYU’s Steinhardt School, the visiting American team joined our faculty and students at the North Dzorwulu campus for a high-level exchange on global education and media.

Our Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Winston Abroampa, provided our guests with an expert breakdown of Ghana’s tertiary education landscape. From the regulatory role of GTEC to the evolution of specialized universities, his overview highlighted how we bridge the gap between national policy and academic excellence at UniMAC.

The dialogue became particularly insightful when NYU students asked how our institution prepares UniMAC students for the competitive private sector. Professor Christiana Hammond, Rector of the Institute of Journalism, explained that our strategy relies on heavy internship placement, hands-on training, and industry-led workshops to ensure our graduates are market-ready.

Our Dean, Prof. Etse Sikanku, also delivered a sharp presentation on the digital transformation of the Ghanaian media.

This visit, supported by our management and the Centre for Global Education and Collaboration, is another milestone in our internationalization drive. It proves that UniMAC is not just a local leader, but a key player in the global academic conversation.

𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 "𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺" 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗢𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

We were filled with pride and purpose on Thursday, 19 March 2026, as we welcomed German journalists Rike Uhlenkamp and Rainer Kwiotek to our South Legon campus.

Representing Zeitenspiegel Reportagen, the duo met with our students in Lecture Hall 1.2 for an eye-opening masterclass that challenged us to rethink the traditional "bad news" cycle. Their mission was to introduce the next generation of Ghanaian storytellers to the power of Solutions Journalism.

The visiting journalists argued that while the media is often quick to report on a crisis, the responsibility shouldn't end there. They encouraged our Journalism and Media Studies Association's (JOMSA) members to follow up on their reports by investigating social, political, and infrastructural fixes.

"People are becoming tired of the bad news," they observed. "They want to hear the good news. The kind of stories that bring actual solutions to society."

For many of our budding journalists, the session was a powerful reminder that journalism isn't just about documenting problems. It's about being a catalyst for change.

This engagement is part of our ongoing commitment at SOJAMS to expose our students to global professional standards and equip them with the skills to lead in a modern media landscape.

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗠𝗔𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗡𝗟𝗔 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗘𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗺𝘂𝘀+ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺

We recently concluded a successful academic exchange with distinguished Norwegian scholar, Prof. Terje Skjerdal, who visited our campus under the prestigious Erasmus+ Mobility Programme.

The visit, which wrapped up on 20 March 2026, marked a major milestone in our ongoing mission to expand UniMAC’s global reach and foster cross-border knowledge exchange. Prof. Skjerdal, from NLA University College, engaged our faculty and students in a series of high-level sessions, including a featured webinar on "African Journalism Identities in the 2020s."

Welcoming the Professor, our Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Winston Abroampa, emphasized that we are moving toward collaborations that yield "tangible outcomes." He noted that international partnerships must translate into real impact through staff and student exchanges and joint research.

Our Dean, Prof. Etse Sikanku, underscored the partnership offers a unique window into the evolving dynamics of global media.

"Our goal is to establish strong research hubs that facilitate the exchange of knowledge and professional skills," he stated.

During his stay, Prof. Skjerdal described our Institute of Journalism as one of the leading training institutions in Africa. He pledged to use this partnership to create even more opportunities for our scholars and students to gain international exposure.

The visit was carefully coordinated by the Director of the Centre for Global Education and Collaboration (CGEC), Dr. Lawrencia Agyapong, to ensure maximum impact on our teaching and research standards.

We were also joined by key members of our academic leadership, including Dr. Benedine Azanu (Dean of Graduate Studies), Dr. Caroline Aboagye Da-Costa (Ag. Head of Journalism), and Ms. Mary Naa Agbanye Anum (Assistant Registrar, CGEC).

This successful exchange reinforces UniMAC’s position as a credible partner in the global academic ecosystem. We look forward to many more international collaborations.