communication and media

1. General Information

Course title: Diploma in online journalism

Course code: JOUR/101

Course duration: 1-2years

mode of delivery: Full time, part time and online

Course Overview

The Diploma in Online Journalism is a two-year (four-semester) professional and skills-based programme designed to train learners in digital news gathering, multimedia storytelling, online content production, and ethical journalism practices in the digital era. The course integrates traditional journalism principles with modern digital technologies, emphasizing practical training in multimedia production, mobile reporting, social media management, and web-based publishing.

The programme prepares graduates for the fast-evolving media landscape, enabling them to create, edit, and distribute content on online news platforms, blogs, social media channels, and digital media outlets.

2. Main Concepts / Topics Covered

The course covers core theoretical and practical areas in digital and multimedia journalism, including:

A. Foundations of Journalism

• Introduction to Journalism

• News writing and reporting

• Feature writing

• Editorial processes and content editing

B. Digital & Online Journalism

• Principles of online journalism

• Digital news production workflows

• Content Management Systems (CMS)

• Web publishing

• Multimedia storytelling

C. Multimedia Production

• Photography and photojournalism

• Video production and editing

• Audio production and podcasting

• Mobile journalism (MoJo) techniques

D. Social Media & Digital Communication

• Social media journalism

• Social media management tools

• Online audience engagement

• Digital marketing basics

• Analytics and data-driven content strategies

E. Data & Investigative Journalism

• Data journalism fundamentals

• Digital research methods

• Fact-checking and verification tools

• Investigative reporting techniques

F. Media Ethics, Law and Professional Practice

• Media law and regulations

• Online rights and responsibilities

• Copyright and intellectual property

• Ethical reporting in the digital age

G. Additional Skills

• Communication skills

• Entrepreneurship in digital media

• Professional writing and scripting

• Industry attachment/internship

3. Course Requirements

To qualify for admission and successful completion, the following requirements apply:

A. Admission Requirements

• KCSE Mean Grade C− or equivalent

• OR a Certificate in Journalism/Media Studies

• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for experienced media practitioners

B. Learning Requirements

• Access to a computer or laptop

• Basic internet connectivity

• Participation in studio/lab sessions

• Engagement in news production projects, assignments, and practical tasks

C. Graduation Requirements

• Successful completion of all course units

• Submission of a final multimedia project or portfolio

• Completion of industrial attachment (typically 3 months)

4. Assessment Methods

Assessment is competency-based and includes both continuous and summative evaluations:

A. Continuous Assessment

• Quizzes and short tests

• Written assignments and feature stories

• News articles and multimedia projects

• Practical exercises in photography, video, and audio

• Class participation and presentations

• Social media content creation tasks

B. Practical Assessment

• Portfolio development

• Production of digital stories

• Video and audio production tasks

• Web publishing assignments

• Field reporting and mobile journalism exercises

C. Summative Assessment

• End-of-semester exams

• Final practical project or capstone

• Industrial attachment assessment report

5. Course Facilitators

The programme is facilitated by the following multidisciplinary team of professionals:

Name                                                                    Exprtise

Mr J Mwangi                                                        media and News editing

Ms. Ireen                                                               Media and journalism

Prof.Odero                                                            Linguistics and media