NCU Students Gain First-Hand New Production Experience During JIS Tour

Students from the Department of Communication Studies at the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) recently toured the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) where they got the opportunity to see the news production process first-hand, connecting classroom theory with real-world industry practices.

Coordinated by the agency’s Special Projects Department, the tour formed part of ongoing efforts to engage students pursuing careers in media and communications, while providing deeper insights into the Government’s information dissemination process.

It commenced at the JIS Head Offices on Half-Way Tree Road and concluded at the Television Department at South Odeon Avenue.

The tour began with a ‘JIS Insider’ presentation, which provided details about the agency’s history, mandate and operations, including its pivotal role in communicating Government of Jamaica (GOJ) policies, programmes, and initiatives to the public.

Students were then taken on an immersive, behind-the-scenes observation of several key production departments, including Public Relations and Marketing, Research and Publications, Editorial and Photography. Social Media, and Radio and Television.

During each leg of the tour, representatives from the respective departments provided detailed overviews of their functions, workflows, and the tools utilised in content creation and distribution.

In the Public Relations and Marketing Department, students learned about the importance of public relations campaigns in disseminating information across various platforms, how writing can be used to create and maintain a favourable brand image, and placement of advertisements.

In the Editorial and Photography Department, the students were given tips on how to identify and capture important information for news releases, features and photo captions, and in the Research and Publications Department, students learned about graphic design and the various publications done at the agency, such as calendars, flyers, books, press kits, and more.

In the Social Media Department, the students were exposed to the digital marketing and content creation aspects of the agency, to include how information is simplified to fit specific platforms and appeal to various audiences.

In the Radio Department, they were able to record and play back audio in the studio, learn about the audio console and various editing tools and software.

The tour culminated at the JIS Television Department, where the students were exposed to television production, including studio operations and programme development.

The tour’s interactive format allowed students to pose questions, engage in discussions, and gain practical insights into the day-to-day operations of the national news and information agency.

The experience was designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, equipping the students with a clearer understanding of career pathways within the media industry.

In an interview with JIS News following the tour, student Mathew Wright, said they were pleasantly surprised at the range of services and work being done at the agency.

“I am sure that most of us as students thought that going in, we were just going to see a news company, or a public relations office that works under the Government,” he said.

“But, as a matter of fact, there are a plethora of services… and even when we went there, people were on assignments ensuring that things were done on time,” he continued.

Jada-Kay Pringle shared that the experience garnered was invaluable.

“It was not just a tour; it was an experience. I got to be in a space and feel how it [would] feel to [work] in that space,” she told JIS News.

She noted that the tour was “eye-opening” and she now knows that a lot of the “the information on social media as it relates to the Government is all under the JIS”.

For her part, organiser of the tour and lecturer at the institution, Kerry Furukawa, shared her view on the importance of providing students with practical, in-the-field experience before they enter the world of work.

“I don’t think there is anything as too much knowledge,” she pointed out.

“[It will] broaden their understanding, awareness and knowledge [and] certainly [have] a direct impact on the kind of future they will have professionally and personally,” Ms. Furukawa told JIS News.

The initiative underscores the commitment of the JIS to youth engagement and capacity-building within the media sector, fostering the next generation of communication professionals through experiential learning opportunities.

Tours can be scheduled by contacting the agency’s Special Projects Department at specialprojects@jis.gov.jm.