Media & Communication

Bachelor of Broadcast Journalism

The Bachelor of Broadcast Journalism is a four-year programme that prepares students for careers in radio, television and digital media journalism. Students study news writing, reporting, editing, radio and television production, media law and ethics, developing the skills needed to gather, produce and broadcast news and current affairs content. The programme combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on production experience in studios and on location.

Students develop competencies in news gathering, writing, interviewing, audio and video production, editing, presentation and digital journalism. They learn to research stories, conduct interviews, operate broadcast equipment, produce news packages and present content on air. The programme covers media law, press ethics, investigative journalism and the evolving digital media landscape.

In Kenya, broadcast journalism is a dynamic field with numerous radio stations, television channels and growing digital media platforms. The media landscape includes major broadcasters like Citizen TV, NTV, KTN and radio networks. Streaming platforms and social media have expanded content creation opportunities. Graduates find roles in newsrooms, production houses, corporate communications and digital media. Media Council of Kenya accreditation is important for professional practice.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, studio practicals, field reporting assignments, newsroom simulations and industrial attachment. Students produce news bulletins, radio programmes and television packages, using professional studio equipment. The programme includes attachment in radio stations, TV newsrooms or digital media companies.

Graduates pursue careers as broadcast journalists, news anchors, radio presenters, television producers, news editors and digital content journalists. Some work in radio or television stations. Others join digital media platforms, production companies or corporate communications departments.

This programme is ideal for individuals with strong communication skills, curiosity about current affairs and ability to work under pressure. Students who enjoy storytelling, investigation and working with media technology will find this programme particularly engaging.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 283,000
Private, up to: Ksh 235,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

News Writing and Reporting
Radio Production and Broadcasting
Television Production and Broadcasting
Media Law and Ethics
Broadcast Journalism Techniques
Video Editing and Post-Production
Investigative Journalism
Digital and Online Journalism
Media Research Methods
Newsroom Management and Editorial Practice

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Journalism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of journalism, including news values, ethics, history and the role of media in society
News Writing and Reporting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Techniques for gathering, writing and structuring news stories for broadcast media
Radio Production and Broadcasting
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Radio studio operations, audio recording, editing and programme production techniques
Television Production and Broadcasting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
TV studio operations, camera work, lighting, graphics and television programme production
Media Law and Ethics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Legal and ethical frameworks governing media practice in Kenya, including defamation and press freedom
Video Editing and Post-Production
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Digital video editing techniques, colour correction, sound mixing and post-production workflows
Investigative Journalism
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Methods for researching and producing in-depth investigative reports, including data journalism
Digital and Online Journalism
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Web journalism, social media reporting, podcasting and multimedia content creation
Broadcast Journalism Techniques
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced techniques in broadcast news production, including live reporting and current affairs programming
Newsroom Management and Editorial Practice
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Management of newsroom operations, editorial decision-making and newsroom leadership
Research Project
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Independent research or creative project on a selected journalism topic producing a scholarly dissertation
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Supervised placement at a radio station, TV newsroom, digital media company or production house

Specialisations

Sports Journalism
Specialization in Sports Journalism, preparing graduates for careers such as broadcast-journalist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Digital Journalism
Specialization in Digital Journalism, preparing graduates for careers such as content-creator-social-media-manager.
Television Journalism
Specialization in Television Journalism, preparing graduates for careers such as broadcast-journalist.
Radio Broadcasting
Specialization in Radio Broadcasting, preparing graduates for careers such as broadcast-journalist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Investigative Journalism
Specialization in Investigative Journalism, preparing graduates for careers such as journalist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
News Production
Specialization in News Production, preparing graduates for careers such as broadcast-journalist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on media law or journalism theory with afternoon studio sessions for radio or TV production. Students may write news scripts, record interviews in the studio, edit video footage or present news bulletins in the newsroom simulation.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya has a vibrant media landscape with diverse career opportunities
Digital media has expanded content creation and journalism opportunities
Dynamic and exciting career with public impact
Skills are transferable to corporate communications and digital content

Against it

Media industry can be competitive with irregular hours and pressure
Entry-level salaries in some media houses can be modest
Journalism can involve risks, especially when covering sensitive stories
Technology changes rapidly, requiring continuous skills updating

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 106 media & communication courses

Public204k to 283k

204k at Kenyatta University283k at University of Nairobi

Private143k to 236k

143k at Zetech University236k at Africa Nazarene University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 204K, UoN 283K/yr (KUCCPS). ANU 235,500, Zetech 142,600 (KUCCPS).

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some media organisations offer internship stipends during attachment periods.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Kenya Film Commission Creative Grant
GrantKsh 500,000Kenyan
Kenyan filmmakers and creatives pursuing film, TV or animation projects
Media Council of Kenya Journalism Training Fund
BursaryKenyan
Journalism and communication students accredited by the Media Council of Kenya
Nation Media Group Journalism Graduate Trainee Programme
ScholarshipKenyan
Recent journalism, media and communication graduates with strong digital skills

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

English/Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics A/B or any Group II subject
C+
History/Government/Geography/CRE/IRE
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework100% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Production Projects and Portfolios
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional practice requires a Media Council of Kenya (MCK) press card.

Accredited by

Media Council of Kenya (MCK)
InstitutionalRequired
Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Radio Presenter
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Hosts radio programmes, conducts interviews and engages with audiences on air
Digital Content Journalist
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Creates multimedia news content for digital platforms, including podcasts and social media
TV Producer
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Produces television content, including news programmes, documentaries and current affairs shows
Broadcast Journalist
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 200,000
Reports, writes and presents news stories for radio, television or digital media platforms
News Anchor
Low demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 300,000
Presents news bulletins and current affairs programmes on television or radio

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as broadcast journalists, news anchors, radio presenters, TV producers and digital content journalists in radio stations, TV stations, production houses and digital media platforms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Premiere Pro
Editing softwarePrimary
Film editing.
DaVinci Resolve
Editing software
Colour grading and editing.
Adobe Photoshop
SoftwarePrimary
Image editing and graphic design software for creating visual content for print, digital media, and social media platforms.
WordPress
Software
Content management system for web publishing, blog management, and online content creation used by media houses and corporate websites.
Hootsuite
Software
Social media management platform for scheduling posts, monitoring engagement, and analysing social media performance across multiple platforms.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Broadcast journalism is just about reading news on TV
The programme covers writing, reporting, producing, editing, media law, ethics and digital journalism skills.
There are no jobs in Kenya's media industry
Kenya has a vibrant media landscape with numerous radio stations, TV channels and growing digital platforms requiring trained journalists.
Journalism is dying because of social media
Digital platforms have expanded journalism opportunities, creating demand for multimedia content creators.
You need to be famous to be a journalist
Most journalists work behind the scenes as reporters, producers and editors, building careers through skill and experience.