SOUTHERN PROVINCE

MUHANGA — The Minister of Information has urged university students taking mass communication to work hard to change the reputation of the media in Rwanda.

Louise Mushikiwabo made the remarks on July 8, while addressing students of The Catholic University of Kabgayi (UCK).

The minister was on a one day tour at the university during which she inspected various activities run by the Faculty of Mass Communication and Radio Maria.

Minister Mushikiwabo had previously toured a similar faculty at the National University of Rwanda (NUR). She said her tour was aimed at soliciting ways to improve the media profession through assisting students of mass communication.

"The image of the media in Rwanda today is not very good and that is why the ministry wants to assist the mass communication students to join the field with skills of professionalism. The future of the media will depend on your input towards professionalism and the ministry is willing to make this happen,” Mushikiwabo said.

Mushikiwabo also promised support to all media houses and upcoming mass communication students, saying her ministry welcomes all ways of improving media coverage and professionalism.

She added that: "creating media clubs in universities and coverage of news that is representative of all Rwandans, besides Kigali is one of the issues that need to be addressed by all media houses so that we can inform Rwandans effectively.”

She noted that the new law on media has been submitted to the senate and it is aimed at responding to the needs of Rwandans and investors interested in investing in Rwanda’s media.

However, Mushikiwabo stressed that there is need to uphold professionalism and learning from other countries where the media has become a driving force to growth and development.

The students asked the ministry to assist in providing equipments needed to master the profession, and asked the minister about the ways through which the government can support local media groups to improve their remunerations.

In response, Mushikiwabo said that the ministry is aware of the issues and some of them are under consideration. She however, emphasized that media is like any other trade which needs to be done professionally so that Rwandans can invest in the enterprise and thus increase on income and remunerations.

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