WALTER SISULU JOURNALISM GRADUATES READY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF STORTTELLING

From rural villages to graduation stages, a new generation of journalists walked out of iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu carrying more than qualifications as they carried voices and the responsibility of shaping conversations within society.

During the university’s graduation ceremony on Monday at the Potsdam site, the Journalism Department celebrated a growing cohort of Diploma and Advanced Diploma graduates, many of whom are already positioning themselves to make meaningful contributions within the media and communications industry.

For the department, the moment represented more than academic success. It reflected years of nurturing young storytellers from communities across the Eastern Cape into professionals prepared for a fast-changing media landscape.

Deputy Head of Department for Marketing, Public Relations and Communications, Dr Yoliswa Mgedezi, said witnessing students graduate remained one of the most fulfilling moments for academics within the department.

“Seeing our Journalism Diploma and Advanced Diploma students graduate is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences as a Head of Department,” she said.

“It is a moment of great pride because graduation represents not only academic success, but also resilience, growth, creativity, and determination,” she added.

Dr Mgedezi explained that many students arrive at the institution carrying dreams shaped by difficult socio-economic realities, with education becoming a pathway towards transformation and opportunity.

“Most of them come from rural areas like Lusikisiki, Elundini, Qoboqobo and Tsolo and disadvantaged backgrounds, so education becomes their only hope and tool to realise their potential,” she said.

She added that the department continues to position graduates to respond meaningfully to the evolving demands of journalism and multimedia storytelling.

“We take pride in knowing that the programme has equipped them with critical thinking skills, ethical values, practical media competencies, and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing media landscape,” she said.

Among the graduates was Ongeziwe Makubalo, who reflected on graduating during a historic period in which the institution embraced its rebranded identity as iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu.

“As I received my Diploma in Journalism qualification from iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu, it seemed like both a beginning and a finish,” she said.

“We learned how to think critically, convey meaningful stories, and comprehend the communities we come from at Walter Sisulu.”

Makubalo also called on the institution to continue investing in its own graduates.

“I’m calling on iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu to make a deliberate effort to employ its own graduates across departments, from communications and media to administration and student support,” she said.

Another graduate, Sinethemba Gcolotela, said journalism remained a powerful tool for social impact and public awareness.

“As a graduate from WS my ultimate goal when I step into the field is to make a positive impact on society,” she said.

“Whether it's through investigative reporting that brings to light social injustices or human-interest stories that inspire and unite, I want my work and what I've been taught to contribute to a better informed and empathetic world,” she said.

For Sisanda Mvimbi, the programme provided practical multimedia skills needed in modern newsrooms.

“As a journalism graduate, I bring independent full-cycle multimedia journalism,” she said.

“I can identify newsworthy stories, shoot high-quality video, conduct professional interviews, edit footage into polished content, and record clear voice-overs, all without supervision,” she added.

By: Yolanda Palezweni