By Nanauzir
GOMBAK, 27 March 2015: For the first time since its establishment in 1990, the Department of Communication will be organising Journalism Day on 15 April as part of the programme on Communication Week (14 to 17 April 2015) to expose students to journalism as a profession.
The event will be held in collaboration with Communication Society (COSA), IIUM.fm, IIUM Today and the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia Students Association (IPRMSA – IIUM Chapter), the major entities within the Department of Communication.
The one-day Journalism Day event is also intended to inculcate the spirit of journalism among the students by bringing professionals and alumnus in the industry to participate in the event.
As part of the main programmes, students will have an opportunity to attend a forum on the topic “Media downplaying of issues involving Muslims: The Chapel Hill shooting.”
This is going to be interesting because the audience will have a chance not only to listen the the talk on the issues discussed by the journalists but also to participate and ask questions. The panelists are expected to be from among senior and veteran journalists.
There will also be a mock press conference where students would simulate their role as journalists attending the press conference and asking appropriate questions on current issues of concern to the public. A topic will be assigned for that purpose.
This will be a great opportunity for students to put into practice the concept they have learned in class. A professional journalist and a journalism trainer will be there to assist with the conduct of the mock press conference.
Meanwhile, the audience will also have an opportunity to view some of the photographs taken by photojournalism students who will display their professional work at an exhibition mounted especially for the Journalism Day. ***