All You Need to Know about a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication in Kenya

 Journalism involves acquiring, analyzing, producing, and presenting news and information on recent events. Mass communication on the other hand is the study of disseminating information to a large audience via various forms of communication.

Minimum Admission requirements

• Minimum KCSE mean grade 
• Atleast C- in English
• Atleast C- in Kiswahili

Colleges and Universities Offering Diploma in Journalism and Mass Media

Colleges

1. Africa Digital Media Institute
2. Kenya Institute of Media and Technology
3. Kenya Institute of Mass Communication
4. East African School Of Journalism
5. Leaders Institute Of Journalism & Legal Studies
6. The New Dimension College

Universities

1. Multi media Univesity
2. Zetech University
3. Mount Kenya University
4. KCA University
5. Kenyatta University

Why pursue a career in journalism or mass media?

 There are numerous disciplines that make up mass communication, and because of the variety of mass media, this is a career with creativity and flexibility. You can say it is a highly rewarding career. You will be able to:

• Extend your network.
• Have social footing
• Travel and acquire new knowledge
• Have several career options
• Expand your creativity
• get knowledge on effective communication tools and strategies.
• Freelance

The several career options you will have with a diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication are being a communication specialist, Editor, copy writer, digital media  content developer, digital producer, documentary maker, and publisher among others.

Course Duration and Structure

It  takes two (2) academic years to complete a diploma course. The students take ten (10) units in their first academic year. Five units per semester. In the second academic year, the students take six (6) units in the first semester, and two (2) units in the second semester (Field attachment or research project). There are eighteen (18) units in the program and the candidates must pass each of these 18 units in order to be eligible for the diploma. The pass mark is usually 40%. There might be some variation in this structure from one school to another, but not much. In particular, this is for Kenyatta University.

How much does it cost to study journalism in Kenya?

 In Kenya, studying journalism typically costs Ksh. 30,000 each semester but this highly depends with the institution you have enrolled to. If you are passionate and creative, then this course will be worth the Investiment.

With the array of core journalistic skills acquired in this course, even if you don’t land a job, you will do well as a freelancer. Go for it, but be willing to think out of the box because the market is a little bit saturated. You must brand yourself as the best to be competitive.