Gaining valuable skills in public commentary and public relations for real-world application

15 October 2024 - Wits University

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Africa Correspondents Corps Summer Program draws to a close for Wits students.

Over the past few months, a group of students from Wits University participated in the HBCU-Africa Correspondents Corps (HBCU-ACC) Summer Program at Howard University. As the programme comes to an end, these students are now eager to apply their newly acquired skills in public policy commentary and global public relations to real-world challenges. They joined their peers from other universities across the United States and South Africa in this intensive training programme, gaining valuable professional insights and building a strong network.

In the upcoming weeks, the students' course assignments will be published in national and international media outlets, marking the beginning of their journey into public commentary and journalism.

Selected Wits students

The following Wits students completed the summer programme:

• Ezra Mendel – Expert Commentary
• Salient Aminu – Global Public Relations
• Tasneem Vania – Global Public Relations
• Thandolwethu Shisa – Global Public Relations
• Thato Makwela – Global Public Relations
• Thuto Kgosiemang – Expert Commentary

Summer courses

Wits University students have recently engaged in two pivotal courses aimed at refining their skills in journalism and global public relations. The first course, Expert Commentary, delved into the intricacies of public commentary on African affairs, with students producing a variety of content including blog posts, opinion editorials, and podcasts as part of their assignments. The second course, Global Public Relations, offered a deep dive into the field of global public relations through a journalistic lens. In this course, students worked on media pitches, incorporated artificial intelligence in content creation, and developed traditional press releases, preparing them for the evolving media landscape.

Guest speakers

The programme featured an array of renowned journalists and media professionals, including:

• Onur Ant from Bloomberg News
• Luke Feltham from the Mail and Guardian
• Ruth Mclean and Greg Winter from the New York Times

Their talks ranged from their experiences in the global media landscape to offering practical advice for aspiring journalists. Students were also given the opportunity to conduct interviews with many of these prominent figures.

Reflections from Wits students

Students shared their personal experiences and the impact the programme had on their future career ambitions:

• Salient Aminu: "The HBCU-ACC program broadened my understanding of journalism, highlighting the effort and dedication required in the field. The opportunity to engage with journalists from institutions like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal was eye-opening."
• Thato Makwela: "This program reignited my passion for storytelling and introduced me to new opportunities in journalism and public relations. It was a transformative experience that reminded me of the possibilities I hadn't considered for my future."
• Thuto Kgosiemang: "One of the standout moments for me was critiquing provocative quotes during class exercises, which taught me to critically differentiate between fact and opinion—an essential skill as I pursue a career as an expert commentator or media analyst."

Recognitions and awards

Akofa Bruce was awarded the honour of being the HBCU-ACC Correspondent of the Year. Reflecting on their time with the Wits students, she said, "Working with the Wits students was inspiring. They approached every challenge with professionalism and curiosity, and they taught our cohort the importance of facing new tasks with confidence," Bruce is an undergraduate student at Howard University. She serves as the Community Outreach and Communications Intern at the Center for Women, Gender, and Global Leadership. 

ÍøÒ×ÌåÓý the programme

The HBCU-Africa Correspondents Corps is a flagship initiative of Howard University's Center for African Studies, financially supported by Hyundai and Mitsubishi Heavy. The programme provides professional development and exposure to student journalists and political science scholars from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as well as students from Africa. Its aim is to cultivate a new generation of international correspondents, political commentators, and global public relations professionals.

For more information about the HBCU-ACC program, visit Center for African Studies - Howard University.

ÍøÒ×ÌåÓý the Center for African Studies

The Center for African Studies (CfAS) at Howard University is a comprehensive National Resource Center that supports and enhances Africa-related teaching, research, and engagement across the university. It promotes the teaching of African languages, including Amharic, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba, and Zulu, and advances research and instruction on Africa to foster a deeper understanding of the continent.