A two-day intensive news writing camp for all College Website Managers, University Relations Office (URO) staff, and Focus Fm volunteers was held on the 27th and 28th of September 2021. The program, which was overseen by the University Relations Office (URO), was designed to expose website managers to the realities and expectations of their positions as they relate to the various divisions' operations.
According to KNUST's Relations Officer, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, a lot of things happen in the many colleges, faculties, and departments of the University and most of them go unreported. As a result, the training is focused at honing these persons' talents for them to be more effective. The training also forms part of the grand agenda to enhance the visibility of research and project works, emerging scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements of various colleges.
The participants were taught how to recognize different sources of news, information collection and analysis, as well as how to write in a broadcast manner. They were also taught some journalistic writing methods, such as selecting a story's lead and title, determining a house style, interviewing tactics for writing and style and grammatical mechanics. The University Management, according to Dr. Bekoe, are focusing on improving the professional competency of website managers. This was set against the backdrop of the University being a knowledge-based culture where information was regarded as a valuable commodity, according to the University Relations Officer.
Some of the participating website managers, in an interview, lauded the Management of the University for creating the platform for them to refresh their knowledge. They promised to adhere to the guidelines taught them in the discharge of their duties.
Dr. Daniel Nkrumah of the KNUST Languages and Communication Sciences Department, Nana Kwadwo Jantuah, a multiple award-winning broadcast journalist, and Mr. Daniel Kenu, Ashanti Regional Editor of ‘The Daily Graphic' newspaper, were among the experts who instructed the participants.