By Ebude Brita, Sandrine Ndukong & Epie Joseph
Twelve journalism students who have been on internship at The Post Newspaper’s head office in Buea ended the onemonth experience July 29, with blessings from the institution’s Editor-in-Chief, Bouddih Adams, to “go and shine”.
Bouddih told the July 2023 interns that they have become part of The Post’s family and should feel free to write and publish with the prestigious English Language newspaper at any time.
The journalism students, nine girls and three boys, started the onemonth programme on July 4. Ten of them came from the University of Buea’s Journalism and Mass Communication Department and two came from Siantou University in Yaounde.
“Be our ambassadors, conquer the world and shine like other interns who passed through The Post,” Bouddih said adding that the interns should build solid foundations in journalism first before looking for money.
“In this profession, you need to build your name first, enrich your vocabulary, read books because if you stop reading definitely you will stop writing,” he added.
The internship was coordinated by The Post’s Buea city reporter, Hope Nda, who was also a former intern of the institution. He described the one-month session as an enriching experience where the interns were eager to learn by doing. He said the 12 interns published a cumulated 34 news and feature stories, some of which took leading positions on the newspaper’s front pages. Nda said he believes the outgoing interns have gained enough foundational experience in journalism. “We have been able to have interactive sessions with the interns as they have been drilled theoretically and practically,” he said. “I encourage the Interns not to limit themselves to what they have learned from here, but also continue to improve on themselves and aim higher for the best.”
During their experience at The Post, the journalism students gained insights from other staff of The Post, including the Desk Editor, Andrew Nsoseka, and the Assistant Desk Editor, Njodzeka Danhatu. Both of them took turns to appreciate the interns and asked them to be outstanding wherever they will go and in whatever they will do.
Most of the interns qualified the internship as an enhancing and a refining experience, as they were able to add to their writing skills, vocabulary and interviewing skills. Njie Ryan, who was voted as interns’ leader, said he learned a lot during the internship and his style of writing news stories has changed.
“The Post Newspaper has not only edited our stories but our lives as they have impacted us with knowledge and I will wish to be a volunteer at The Post to better improve on myself and be like our supervisors,” he said.
Epamba Jemimah, another intern, said she was surprised at the start of the internship when, on its first day, she was sent to the field to conduct interviews – something which got her nervous.
But she mastered her fear of interviewing and news writing in the following weeks of the programme. She added that she wished the internship continued. “I can’t believe one month has ended already. I wish we could continue to learn more of journalism skills,” she said.
Marlene Gifty, a student who came from Siantou University Yaoundé, lauded the friendliness of staff of The Post, which made her feel at home. “I love the friendly relationship, which the staff and interns shared. This has created a bond and I wish we could continue.”
The Post has trained thousands of student journalists from the University of Buea, Siantou University, ASMAC Yaoundé, National Polytechnique Bamenda, among other universities. This year, the institution admitted close to 30 interns at its head office for the months of July, August and September.