Fatmata H. Turay -Intern-UniMak, AYV News, September 9, 2025
The News and Current Affairs (NCA) Department of the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire, commonly referred to as the Newsroom, has completed a 5-day intensive Empowerment Session for twenty aspiring young journalists, serving internship at the Institution from the Fourah Bay College, University of Makeni, Limkokwing University and IMAT College.
The Session is basically focused on introducing the Interns to the Core Principles and Responsibilities of Media Professionals.
Led by well-experienced broadcasters and media trainers, participants were taken through both theoretical and practical aspects of journalism, with key topics including introduction to broadcast journalism, voice control and types of voice-overs, news anchoring and reporting techniques, journalistic ethics and objectivity, news writing and story structuring and interview techniques and presentation skills being taught.
The Interns also gained knowledge on the fundamental principles of journalism, including truthfulness, clarity, accuracy, balance, independence, and public interest, where Trainers emphasised that news must be presented clearly and concisely so as to enable the audience to grasp the information the first time they hear or read it.
Participants were particularly engaged during the voice training sessions, where they practiced voiceovers for documentaries, news reads, and features. Instructors highlighted the importance of pronunciation, tone, and consistency in broadcast delivery.
The AYV Academy and Internship Programme aims to nurture the next generation of Sierra Leonean media professionals by equipping them with the right skills and newsroom discipline. The program is expected to run for several weeks, culminating in hands-on experience in radio, print, television, and digital journalism.
AYV continues to play a leading role in empowering youth through media literacy and professional development skills.
