- St. Mary’s Ukwala Journalism Club won during news production competitions.
- There’s need to equip journalism-interested young students on journalistic practices and give them space for growth.
- Ethics and accountability are key.
St. Mary’s Ukwala High School is an Extra County level Boarding Boys Secondary School located in Ugenya Sub-County, Siaya County, Kenya.
It has an enrollment of about 500 students currently.
It is headed by George Onyango as the Senior Principal, deputized by Fredrick Shitubi, 2019 TOYA award winner and literature enthusiast.
There are over 30 members of the teaching staff, averagely-adequate facilities and a conducive teaching and learning environment.
The school does not only pay attention to academic excellence but also co-curricular activities in the full realization of producing all-round citizens towards nation-building and self-sufficiency.
As a means towards the actualization of the SDGs and Vision 2030, St. Mary’s Ukwala High School invests heavily in talent search and career guidance through a series of activities alongside classroom teaching.
The Journalism and Book Club is one of the many clubs in the school that excels in news production, news bulletin, newspaper editing, and creative writing.
The media industry is one of the celebrated employers to many young people in Kenya and across the globe.
It’s a key sector of information dissemination, active research promotion, and the enhancement of top-cream creativity.
St. Mary’s Ukwala Journalism Club prides itself of having produced some prominent journalists through training, career guidance, and exposure to the real world of the media industry.
The club’s inception
The club was initially founded by the then Principal, Mr. M.S.O Kogweno, in 2006, under the chaperoneship of Mr. Isaac Wambedha, later joined by Madam Christine and Bonface Otieno as co-patrons.
The current school’s head, Senior Principal Onyango, has been at the forefront of supporting and championing the club’s activities selflessly.
The club, which now has over 70 members, has nurtured several minds, building their interests in the media industry, some of who are now successfully pursuing their journalism careers.
Examples are Brian Osweta of BBC and Gilbert Were of Gilitics Media.
Osweta was a founder official, with Douglas Oduge as the Chair; the club was able to publish magazines but was later stalled by finances in the reproduction processes.
In 2017, it was awarded by Mr. James Raballa of Ramogi FM, the Guest speaker during the competition, for being a progressive club.
Reactivating the zeal
Currently, the team is steered by Mr. Otieno as the patron and Ms. Christine Akinyi as the co-patron.
They are reviving the talent by engaging the students in producing a school magazine and creative writing, including short stories, poetry, creative arts, and other journalistic ventures.
Mr. Wambedha is overseeing the team.
The club has participated in two other news production extravaganzas under the Lake Region Journalism Clubs Association umbrella.
Awarded
During term one of the 2023 academic calendar and through the Lake Region competitions, the journalism club participated in a competitive journalism extravaganza that attracted over ten schools.
It was held at St. Monica Chakol Girls High School, Busia County.
The extravaganza brought together different media groups, including Scholar Media Africa, Royal Media Services, Nation Media, and Jomo Kenyatta Foundation publishers, among other guests and radio presenters.
“St. Mary’s Ukwala Journalism Club received a trophy after emerging second best of the over 10 schools that participated in the competitions. That was not a walk in the park; it called for training, research, discipline and a lot of sacrifice,” said Mr. Wambedha, the senior patron.
Media and journalism have been integral parts of our society for centuries.
They play a significant role in providing access to information and shaping public opinion.
It is essential to educate students in media and journalism from an early age to ensure the integrity and credibility of media outlets.
The origin of educating students in media and journalism can be traced back to the early years of journalism. The printing press was invented in the 15th century, making mass communication possible.
With the emergence of newspapers and other news outlets, the need for trained journalists and media professionals grew.
Significantly, educating students in media and journalism lies in the critical role that the media plays in shaping public discourse.
The media acts as a watchdog for governments, corporations, and other institutions, holding them accountable for their actions.
Additionally, it serves as a platform for sharing ideas, promoting public debate, and increasing social awareness.
“The club is committed to instilling discipline and molding learners to become well-esteemed citizens. It is working on their creative anthology of short stories, poetry collection, and their debut school magazine,” said Mr. Wambedha.
By educating students in ethics, journalistic standards, and media literacy, trainers equip them to uphold the integrity of the media in a practical approach. It also prepares them for the ever-changing media industry, equipping them with the skills to navigate various media platforms.
In today’s digital age, the media landscape is constantly evolving and becoming more complex.
Ethics
The media has the power to influence public opinion and behavior, and journalists and media professionals need to be aware of their ethical demands.
It is crucial for the integrity and credibility of media outlets, the maintenance of a fair and informed public opinion, and the development of ethical standards in the media industry.
By providing students with a foundation in media and journalism, they are better prepared to become responsible media professionals and engaged citizens.
These are crucial aspects not escaping St. Mary’s Ukwala High School Journalism Club.
They are up to the task of researching and relaying information creatively through journalism and book activities.
Celebrating excellence
During subsequent competitions in news production at Ndenga Secondary School in Siaya County, Ukwala Journalism Club emerged the best in a heated competition that involved four other schools.
The win allowed them to visit different media houses in Nairobi for three days. They also visited the parliament building and KICC in Nairobi from March 16 to 19, 2023.
“In order to write moving stories and boost creativity, there is a need to get appropriate exposure, research, and experiences in the media industry,” advised Timothy Sumba, a media personality.
“We still keep the transformational spirit in guiding, mentoring, and nurturing learners at all levels of competencies to guarantee responsible citizens for the future generation.
We will keep soaring in our trajectory of creating a legacy as well as impacting the lives of these upcoming citizens of our nation,” affirmed Mr. Otieno.
Journalism and media’s role in society, governments, and global relations is irreplaceable.
St. Mary’s Ukwala High School vows to teach, guide and mentor students into accountable national and global citizens.
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“This is just the beginning, and the sky is just the stepping stone,” says Mr. Otieno, the club’s patron.
Thank God that after 33years I can meet such a great team.
I have really longed for the principal to call an old boys meeting,so that we may get an opportunity to inspire you. So, may I use this platform, to request for the launching of Ukwala Old Boys Association.
Ochieng Owuor,
I was known that way at school.