The Department of Media and Communication (DMC) of the Royal University of Phnom Penh will hold a January 6 study orientation programme and entrance examination for the department. Prospective students will have the opportunity to learn more about media management, communication and press skills.
Nou Vireak, DMC Communication Officer, said that the full-day programme will feature three panel discussions. One will discuss academic skills and one will explain the keys to the entrance exam. Finally, a discussion on the work of DMC students will be held.
In addition to the discussions the department will organise other activities, including study counseling, and exhibition of DMC students’ work and tours of the department’s facilities.
“This programme is organised every year to share the experience of studying, applying and how to take the entrance exam. DMC alumni with different skills such as filmmaking, public relations or journalism, will help prospective students to gain an understanding of what we offer here. This is all designed to make sure that they make the right decision when they choose what field they will study,” said Vireak.
Ung Bun Y, Head of the department, said that once they have graduated, students will become fully qualified Media and Communication Specialists. The curriculum at DMC focuses on theory, practice, research, publishing and broadcasting, and offers internships.
“By studying at DMC, students will gain real-world skills in the field of media. We regularly update our curriculum, as well as providing study resources, scholarships and support tools, and we our projects ensure a quality education – in line with the social progress of countries in the region as well as the world,” he added.
DMC is a higher education institution that offers specialised subjects such as news writing and reporting, journalism photography, radio and television production, video and film production, public relations, digital communications, communications research and newsroom management.
The department is supported by three German partners, including the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), the German Cooperation Organization (GIZ) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Puy Kea, president of the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) and a correspondent for Japan’s Kyodo News Agency, told The Post on January 4 that although the reputation of the media is sometimes less than honourable, when students graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism, they will receive many job offers. In fact, many companies will compete with each other to hire a genuinely qualified journalist.
“They won’t necessarily go to work as a journalist. They may be employed in public relations or become a spokesperson or a media officer. They may even find themselves working at an embassy – it depends on their passion,” he said.
“The profession of journalism refers to an understanding of how to gather information and summarise it for readers to easily understand. This is a very transferrable skill,” he added.
He explained that this was why many ministry officials enrolled in journalism classes.
“Ministry leaders want their officials to have these skills. Nearly all government institutes have a social media presence and a communications department, and journalism skills are required to run them effectively,” he said.
