[WATCH] Bachelor's degree in journalism launched at MCAST

MCAST launches Journalism B.A.

A bachelor’s degree in journalism has been launched at MCAST, in collaboration with the Tumas Fenech Foundation for Education in Journalism.

Education minister Evarist Bartolo, addressing the press conference, said that this was the first step in expanding education within the journalism sector.

Pointing to the increase in the use and access of social media, and its impact on citizen journalism, Bartolo said that training would help people use such media responsibly.

President emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, speaking on behalf of the Foundation, said that the course had been in the making for some six years and he urged the government to create a media law to respect the rights and govern the ethics of the job.

“This course is the first step towards further regulation of the sector,” he added.

In comments to Malta Today, Karl Wright, chairman of the Institute for Maltese Journalists, also echoed the call for further regularisation of the sector, and highlighted the need for a warranting system for the journalism sector, to further safeguard jobs and give added prestige to it.

President of the MCAST board of directors Silvio de Bono explained that the programme of studies would include print, broadcast, sport and investigative journalism, among others, in a effort to teach students how to report news objectively.

The Public Broadcasting Service had already offered internship and apprenticeship opportunities for students, he said, extending an invitation to other media houses that might be interested in offering placement opportunities both during the course itself and after completion.

Coordinator Ian Attard said that students could apply if they had two A’level and two intermediate level qualifications, including English or Maltese at either level.

He added that skills taught would be understanding news items based on opinions and historical facts, and that unlike the course offered by the University of Malta, the course would look at the more practical aspects of journalism rather than theory.

Attard added that applications would open in July and that the course will be offered full time over three years.