Coinciding with Human Rights Day, section-21 public benefit organisation Unitech hosted an inaugural annual student newspaper and campus radio station forum on 21-22 March, 2006, at UNISA SBL Campus in Midrand.
The purpose of the forum was to empower student media, identify best practices, create a platform for annual peer review and recognition of excellence and contribute towards producing quality journalists and media practitioners to add to the critical mass of competent media practitioners required by industry. At the heart of student-owned and managed media is a need for graduate employment and community service - the focus of 15-year old Unitech.
Presenters at the forum included Ferial Haffajjee, Mail & Guardian; Bob Mabena, Primedia; Dali Mpofu, SABC Group Chief; Libby Lloyd, MDDA CEO; and delegates of student newspapers Die Matie, Taxi and Vuvuzela from University of Stellenbosch, Tshwane University of Technology and Wits University respectively.
The forum attracted interest from community radio stations, media departments in the higher learning institutions, and journalists, as well as corporate South Africa.
Unitech services the marketing, communication and development (fundraising and alumni relations) needs and functions of universities, colleges and sector education and training authorise (SETAs) in southern Africa. It has a complete university membership and a growing college membership.
