"If you are looking for a well paying job, this is the wrong one for you. Your parents may need to subsidize you forever. But if you aim at job satisfaction, there is no better career than journalism." This was Amal Jayasinghe, Bureau Chief, AFP for Sri Lanka and the Maldives addressing the new batch of students at the inauguration of the 2011 course of training at the Sri Lanka College of Journalism, 96, Kirula Road, Colombo 5. The Chief Guest’s startling welcome to the students was on Thursday (Jan. 6) with the auditorium full of new recruits plus lecturers and invited guests. Parents seated in a hall on the ground flow participated in the ceremony electronically.
Amal Jayasinghe had brought his first computer (portable) – 30 years old and still in working condition - promising to donate it if and when a museum was created by the College. After pointing out the main demerits of becoming a journalist, Mr Jayasinghe went on to touch on benefits: you are in the frontier of the news world, you are always in the know, there are no hierarchical stations in the journalistic world since with a news item carrying your name as by-line, you are as important that day as anyone else in the media.. He was speaking with 30 years experience in the profession.
The Sri Lanka College of Journalism (SLCJ), established in 2004, is a collective initiative of the media industry along with the Sri Lanka Press Institute and the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka. It is managed and administrated by The Editors’ Guild, the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka, the Free Media Movement and the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association. Funding has been available from international organizations and countries.
Seated at the head table were representatives of some of the associations mentioned and the Director of SLCJ, Mr Namal Perera and Deputy Director, Ms Aanjanee Seneviratne.
An excellent feature of the proceedings were the short yet succinct, and yes, out of the ordinary address made by the Chief Guest, the welcome address by Namal Perera and vote of thanks by Aanjanee Seneviratne, different from the usual monologue of acknowledgements. Another noteworthy feature was the excellent compeering of the event in the three languages by three alumni associates.
The vision of the College is "to be the premier journalism training centre in the region." Mission: "to produce multi-skilled professional journalists who will uphold the values of the Fourth Estate and be at the forefront of creating and protecting an independent and responsible media culture."
The year long flagship diploma course constitutes three streams of study and training – print, radio and television. Computer use and English are included in "the unique hands-on approach, learner centered training with state-of-the-art facilities and an experienced staff of professional journalists" which make "the SLCJ diploma the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka."
Since 2004 the College has produced more than 300 journalists, numbers deliberately kept under control so as not to flood the profession. Past students have formed an alumni association, members present as helpers in the event on the 6th. They are "a core part of the development activities of the SLCJ and in the forefront of creating a professional media culture." Students have been and are from all parts of the Island, many gaining scholarships donated by organizations and institutes.
Several achievements are claimed by the College. It conducts in-service training and provincial workshops for those already in the profession and courses of study in other countries in addition to the regular consultations offered in professional development. Many alumni have won awards, mostly at the annual Excellence in Journalism Awards organized by The Editors’ Guild and the Sri Lanka Press Institute.
Alumni have been offered overseas training. The highest achievement is that "the College’s cutting edge training sends out journalists to ask the right questions; comprehensively trained in journalism ethics and fundamentals of reporting; future oriented and multi-skilled on par with international standards."
Two quotes on the cover of the SLCJ’s brochure deserve repeating here:
Let your passion be your profession and We shape the future.
NPW
Sunday Island
