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School of Communication & Multimedia Journalism

The School of Communication & Multimedia Journalism at Riara University trains skilled professionals in journalism, digital media, and communication. Combining practical experience with theory, it prepares graduates to excel in the evolving media industry with creativity, ethics, and innovation.

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About Us

Email: cmj@riarauniversity.ac.ke

Contact: +254 703 038 479

Office Hours: 8:00AM – 5:00 PM

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The information age has made communication central to daily life. In Kenya, media liberalization since the 1990s has led to rapid growth in radio, TV, print, and digital media. As media platforms expand, so do opportunities and challenges, especially in multilingual broadcasting and social media.

The rise of mobile phones, digital platforms, and the internet has transformed how information is shared, supporting development in areas like health, education, and the environment. Journalism and communication play a vital role in shaping society and driving change.

Riara University’s program equips students with skills to create impactful digital media content across sectors such as politics, health, education, and entertainment. Drawing from UNESCO’s 2013 model for journalism education, the program prepares graduates for the evolving media landscape, emphasizing communication in the public interest and the future of journalism in a global, digital world.

Philosophy of the Programme

The philosophy guiding this programme is founded on the conviction, belief and appreciation that the acquisition of knowledge must take cognizance of the ever changing media environment and tech-savvy era in order to produce graduates who can effectively address media issues and create content for the digital era in Kenya, Africa and the world. It is the conviction of Riara University (RU) that every person deserves information and this information can only be communicated effectively by adequately trained media practitioners. To achieve this goal, RU believes in nurturing professionally competent journalists who are ethical, morally and spiritually upright, of high integrity, dependable, committed, role models, critical and responsive to the fast changing society. RU believes that these professionally trained journalists will contribute positively by giving members of the public credible, accurate and timely information and by extension transform lives the people at the County, National, Regional and International levels.

This programme is thus anchored on a practical orientation. It embraces the challenges which are faced by contemporary journalism where a journalist is today required to be part writer, photographer, video maker, and sound expert as well as being able to edit and assemble media in an online multimedia platform.  The degree prepares graduates to become professional graduates for the digital platform as well as equip them with skills and competencies needed to work and excel in this rapidly changing field.

Rationale of the Programme

The advent of the information age has made communication an integral part of people’s lives. In Kenya, the advent of media liberalization in the 1990s leading to opening up of traditional media space has been followed by an unprecedented growth of radio and television as well as the expansion of the print media. The media continues to play important roles in education, informing and entertaining the population. The growth of multiple languages of broadcasting and the new media platforms has brought with it attendant opportunities and challenges. As an academic and practical field, understanding the media is central to the future development of the industry. Moreover, the role of journalism and communication in development cannot be gainsaid. In order to address different issues that confront Kenyan and African population in general, the mass and new media plays an important role. Communication intervention through both mediated communication and carefully designed programs have helped to promote not only societal change but also behaviour change.

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