Certificate in Media & Journalism

The Certificate in Media & Journalism (MAJ) at Nayolites Computer and Media College is a practical, 6–12 month career-focused program engineered to train complete, multi-platform journalists and media professionals. Learners master hard-news reporting, TV anchoring and presenting, radio package production, media law and ethics, digital publishing, mobile journalism (MoJo), and public relations strategy.

ENGLISH AND KISWAHILI PROFICIENCY

DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION

CERTIFICATE IN MEDIA & JOURNALISM 

Campus Location: Bamuda Place, Mwembe, Kisii, Kenya

Total Duration: 6–12 Months (720 Total Guided Learning Hours)

Certification Pathway: TVET CDACC / NITA / Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Aligned Certificate

Study Modes: Full-Time (Daily Newsroom Labs), Part-Time (Evening), & Weekend Intensive

Entry Requirements: Open Enrollment / Passion for News & Storytelling (KCPE, KCSE, or adult learners)

MAJ 101: Introduction to Journalism & Mass Communication

• Duration: 60 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Written Test & Analytical Essay

• Unit Overview: Core theories of mass communication, history of press, media roles in society, news values, and newsroom organizational structures.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Mass Communication Theories: Agenda-setting theory, framing, gatekeeping, and media influence.

  • Anatomy of a Newsroom: Roles of editor-in-chief, sub-editors, news anchors, field reporters, and broadcast engineers.

  • Defining News: Identifying news value elements (timeliness, proximity, impact, prominence, conflict, human interest).

  • Evolution of Media: Print newspapers, radio broadcast, television networks, and digital news platforms.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Media critique report analyzing news selection across print, broadcast, and digital outlets.

MAJ 102: News Writing, Reporting & Print Editing

• Duration: 80 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Newsroom Writing Lab & Deadline Assignment

• Unit Overview: Gathering hard news, interviewing techniques, writing inverted pyramid stories, headline crafting, AP style rules, and copy editing.

• Detailed Topics:

  • The Inverted Pyramid Structure: Writing dynamic leads, 5Ws and 1H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How), and body paragraphs.

  • Interviewing Skills: Preparing question guides, conducting on-the-record/off-the-record interviews, and capturing direct quotes.

  • Copy Editing & Proofreading: Grammar rules, libel checks, sub-editing, headline writing, and layout fitting.

  • Beat Reporting: Covering politics, local government, crime, courts, business, sports, and human interest stories.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Published portfolio of 5 hard-news print stories written under timed newsroom deadline conditions.

MAJ 103: Broadcast Journalism (Radio & Television Reporting)

• Duration: 80 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Practical Broadcast Package Submission

• Unit Overview: Writing for the ear and eye, voice projection, news package production, field audio recording, and TV news shooting methodologies.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Writing for Broadcast: Conversational tone, short sentence structures, present tense usage, and script timing.

  • Radio News Production: Recording voice tracks (voicers), editing sound bites (actuality clips), and producing radio wraps.

  • TV News Package Assembly: Writing to video footage, stand-up pieces to camera (PTC), B-roll overlay, and voiceover synchronization.

  • Audio/Visual Equipment Operation: Utilizing handheld field mics, audio recorders, and portable news cameras.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Complete 2-minute television news package and a 90-second radio news wrap.

MAJ 104: TV Anchoring, Presenting & Studio Production

• Duration: 80 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Live Studio Anchor Practical Assessment

• Unit Overview: On-camera presentation, voice modulation, teleprompter reading, live interview hosting, studio cueing, and talk show moderation.

• Detailed Topics:

  • On-Camera Presence: Body language, posture, eye contact, facial expressions, camera awareness, and studio wardrobe choices.

  • Vocal Articulation: Diction, pitch control, pacing, breath control, and pronunciation training in English and Swahili.

  • Teleprompter & Ear Prompter Operation: Reading prompters naturally while maintaining conversational delivery.

  • Anchor Dynamics: Reading live bulletins, executing live toss-backs to field reporters, handling studio break-downs, and moderating panel discussions.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Live recorded 15-minute studio television news bulletin and talk show hosting segment.

MAJ 105: Media Law, Ethics & Public Policy

• Duration: 60 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Case Study Analysis & Written Exam

• Unit Overview: Legal frameworks governing press freedom, defamation laws, copyright protection, privacy rights, and professional journalistic codes of conduct.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Media Laws & Constitution: Press freedom, freedom of expression, access to information acts, and statutory bodies (e.g., Media Council of Kenya).

  • Defamation & Legal Risks: Libel, slander, fair comment defenses, sub-judice matters, and court reporting restrictions.

  • Journalistic Ethics: Accuracy, impartiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, handling confidential sources, checkbook journalism, and photo manipulation boundaries.

  • Privacy & Consent: Model releases, recording consent, child protection reporting rules, and safety in conflict zones.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Legal case study defense analyzing defamation, ethics breaches, and press law scenarios.

MAJ 106: Investigative Journalism & Feature Writing

• Duration: 70 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Investigative Pitch & Feature Submission

• Unit Overview: In-depth investigative methodologies, public records research, data-driven journalism, story pitching, and long-form narrative feature writing.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Investigative Techniques: Document verification, source protection, whistleblower protocols, undercover reporting ethics, and OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence).

  • Data Journalism: Analyzing public budgets, extracting statistical data, using spreadsheets for story discovery, and data visualization.

  • Feature Writing Styles: Human interest features, profile pieces, narrative non-fiction, and backgrounders.

• Key Practical Deliverable: 1,500-word investigative report or long-form human-interest narrative feature with supporting documentation.

MAJ 107: Digital Journalism, Mobile News & Online Publishing

• Duration: 70 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Digital Newsroom Portfolio

• Unit Overview: Web news writing, Content Management Systems (WordPress), SEO for news, social media reporting, mobile journalism (MoJo), and audience analytics.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Web Publishing: Crafting click-worthy (yet non-clickbait) headlines, bulleted scannability, hyperlink attribution, and CMS publishing.

  • Mobile Journalism (MoJo): Filming, editing, and uploading news stories directly from mobile devices.

  • Social Media Reporting: Live tweeting/X reporting, breaking news updates, Instagram/Facebook news stories, and short-form video updates.

  • Audience Analytics & Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Keyword placement, traffic metrics, reader engagement, and digital monetization models.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Management of a live online news blog featuring 5 digital articles with embedded multimedia and SEO optimization.

MAJ 108: Public Relations, Corporate Communications & Media Relations

• Duration: 60 Hours

• Assessment Mode: PR Campaign Submission

• Unit Overview: Corporate communication strategies, drafting press releases, managing media relations, crisis communication, and brand reputation management.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Public Relations Fundamentals: Differences between PR, journalism, and advertising; stakeholder engagement models.

  • Media Relations Tools: Writing press releases, media advisories, press kits, pitching stories to news editors, and staging press conferences.

  • Crisis Management: Designing crisis response strategies, drafting official statements, and spokesperson preparation.

  • Corporate Publications: Newsletter production, annual reports, corporate blogging, and speechwriting.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Complete Public Relations Launch Kit (Press release, media advisory, speech draft, and crisis strategy document).

MAJ 109: Documentary Journalism & Community Reporting

• Duration: 60 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Field Documentary Project

• Unit Overview: Grassroots journalism, community issue advocacy, cultural documentary storytelling, and field research.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Community Journalism: Identifying underreported community stories, rural reporting, and social advocacy.

  • Documentary Story Arcs: Treatment writing, narrative structure, subject trust building, and audio-visual pacing.

  • Field Production: Conducting extended on-location interviews and capturing authentic environmental action footage.

• Key Practical Deliverable: 7-minute audio or video documentary focusing on a community heritage or social issue.

MAJ 110: Practical Journalism Capstone & Attachment Attachment

• Duration: 100 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Final Capstone News Project & Newsroom Internship Review

• Unit Overview: Comprehensive capstone project where students publish/broadcast a complete news package and undergo practical newsroom attachment.

• Detailed Topics & Deliverables:

  • Deliverable 1: Broadcast Anchor Reel (3-minute professional showreel).

  • Deliverable 2: Multi-Platform News Suite (1 Printed Lead Story, 1 Digital Web Article, 1 TV Broadcast Package, and 1 Radio News Wrap).

  • Deliverable 3: Practical Attachment Logbook & Field Newsroom Performance Review.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Professional Multi-Platform Journalism Portfolio and Newsroom Attachment Defense.

ASSESSMENT & GRADING FRAMEWORK

• Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) & Newsroom Labs: 30%

• MAJ 110 Final Capstone Portfolio & Showreel: 30%

• Final Examinations (Practical Newsroom & Theory): 40%

Grading Scale:

• Distinction (80% – 100%): Exceptional news judgment, outstanding broadcast presenting, sharp editorial writing, and rigorous legal/ethical adherence.

• Credit (65% – 79%): High level of competence in news writing, camera reporting, digital publishing, and audio-video editing.

• Pass (50% – 64%): Satisfactory baseline skills meeting standard media entry requirements.

• Referral (Below 50%): Re-assessment required in specific newsroom module units.

Course Specifications

• Course Title: Certificate in Media & Journalism (MAJ)

• Duration: 6–12 Months (720 Guided Learning Hours)

• Certification Pathway: TVET CDACC / NITA / Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Aligned Certificate

• Study Modes: Full-Time (Daily Newsroom Labs), Part-Time (Evening), & Weekend Intensive

• Location: Bamuda Place, Mwembe, Kisii, Kenya

Key Learning Pillars

• Print & Digital Reporting: Master inverted pyramid writing, investigative interviewing, copy editing, AP style, WordPress publishing, and SEO news writing.

• Broadcast Anchoring & TV Production: Gain hands-on experience in teleprompter reading, vocal articulation, studio news presentation, live interview hosting, and talk show moderation.

• Audio & Video Field News: Produce broadcast-ready radio news wraps, television news packages, mobile journalism stories, and documentary features.

• Media Law, Ethics & Public Relations: Understand press freedom laws, libel, copyright, Media Council ethical codes, press release drafting, and corporate crisis management.

• Multi-Platform Portfolio: Graduate with a professional broadcast anchor showreel, published digital news articles, and a complete press portfolio.

Target Audience

• Aspiring TV anchors, news presenters, field reporters, print journalists, radio producers, digital content editors, corporate communications officers, public relations specialists, and media entrepreneurs.