Personal Opinion on Rhodes journalism

JMS1-2 APPLICATION


When one picks Journalism as a course they are often driven by their artistic passion to produce media. The problem begins with ‘the cut off’ and now that the deadline was nearer all you keep hearing is “only 129 of you will make it into journ 2”. I have to say there is nothing more stressful than this, going through the application is like writing your final matric exam. The idea of the cut of seems to have gotten most of our heads spinning in the wrong direction. ‘Will I make it? What if I don’t make it? These questions arise each time you think about handing in that dull brown envelop with you name on it. Most of us abandoned our homes we came to Rhodes; despite the fact that we are miles away from family and friends our dream to major in journalism and finality reach our goal of becoming media practitioners.

It seems the journalism department has a catch to its course each year. Even if you do make it into journ 2 guess what, you still have to apply for journ 3. Only this time you are guaranteed a spot but the catch is that you might specialize in design while what you really wanted to specialize in television broadcasting. The journalism department sure knows how to shatter ones dreams. The department puts a pond of stress on your head and they seem to forget that as a first year you also have other challenges to deal with. Some of us had no idea that the department only accepts a certain number of people till we got here, this is surely news worthy. Despite the fact that you have high expectations for yourself the department seems to have even higher expectations of the kind of people they want to graduate with a journalism degree.





When one thinks of not making it into journ 2 you feel like your dream is to turn into a nightmare; it’s a horrific incident to picture especially if you have the passion and the natural talent. I have often witnessed students’ who are in the JMS 1 class for the second year now and that is what I call true determination. If you truly believe that you born with journalistic genes keep going no matter what. Why should you give up? One stands to gain more in finding other alternatives in reaching your goal it might take you longer and it sure will be harder but at the end of it all you stand to gain. Even though our minds are set on whether or not we will make the cut the most important thing is whether or not you will reach your destination in life. No application form can determine your entire future its all up to you to make things happen. I think the JMS 1 students are taking the cut off way seriously; for most of us it seems like the nearing of time for the world to either restore us or for the world to end. When one door closes another door will open. If one really strives for success they do never give up or give into the challenges they face they just keep moving even through though times.

In time I hope the journalism department will make provision to accommodate more people in their course. This statement might not seem realistic as there are limited resources, high standards and a competitive media industry out there. My main point is that the JMS2 application should not be made to seem like a tool which determines your entire future.
Ntombi