Journalism is not your usual run-of-the-mill career. In fact, the life of a journalist comprises never-ending moments of excitement and the feeling of being ahead of the rest at all times. The life of a journalist can never be dull.
 The Sri Lanka College of Journalism (SLCJ), the country's premier college offering core journalism courses, offers a one-year full-time diploma course in print and electronic journalism. With the aim to 'change the media from within', the SLCJ offers world class training and education for aspiring journalists.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to teach both print and broadcast journalism, the College endeavours to teach and train a new generation of journalists with an overall insight into this career choice. The SLCJ is run in close collaboration with industry partners and has a faculty of experienced journalism trainers and draws on a pool of lecturers who are employed full time in national newsrooms and reputed academia.
The 2010 intake will be the 6th for this reputed College. Students following this one-year diploma course undergo training in copywriting, sub editing, news collecting and photography. They are taught the procedures and the processes which make an ethical journalist and an accomplished writer. Television and radio journalists are trained in handling of equipment, news reading and recording and all other aspects of the industry. Yearly recruitment is limited to maintain one-on-one interaction between the students and the staff.
Over the past five years, the alumni of this College have been very successful in securing employment in their preferred fields. Whilst many are absorbed in national newsrooms and broadcast channels, others have gone on into Law, Public Relations and NGOs. The liaison the College has with the industry makes it an ideal place for aspiring journalists to make 'contacts' for their future. The mandatory internships during this year-long course also give the students the opportunity of securing permanent positions within their preferred fields of journalism.
Unlike past decades, the opportunities in journalism have increased. Today, the need for specialized journalists is on the rise with more and more areas now open for discussion and debate. Environmental issues, law and order, politics, socio-economic issues, health and education etc. require specialized writers who are honed at this College. Lectures are conducted by industry specialists who impart valuable tips for better stories.
The SLCJ is administered by the Sri Lanka Press Institute, a partnership between the Editors' Guild, the Newspaper Society and the Free Media Movement. Part funding for the SLCJ comes from the governments of Norway, Sweden and Denmark while curriculum and training support is provided by FOJO, the journalism training arm of the University of Kalmar in Sweden.
In all the courses conducted by the SLCJ there is a strong ethics portion which introduces the participants to the Code of Practice developed by the Editors' Guild as well as the Code of Practice for TV Journalism currently being finalized under the aegis of the SLPI.
Unlike other career options, journalism will continue to be a career that is totally different to other desk jobs. Recruitment for 2010 has begun and applications are available online at www.slcj.lk or can be collected from 96, Kirula Road, Colombo 5. Scholarships are also available for deserving students. |
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