MASS COMMUNICATION – MY DEPARTMENT

by

Edgar Bukola Deborah     

            Until recently, if you had asked me what I was doing in Mass Communication, I’d’ve said “I don’t know o!”  I had no interest whatsoever in Mass Communication; it had not even been a second option for me. For me the plan had always been Law.  People only had to talk to me for five minutes and they’d say “You should study law.” “You’ll make a good lawyer.”  Yes, that had been the plan. And then, as Fate would have it, I ended up studying Mass Communication. Scary!

            When I was coming to school, I had no idea what to expect, except from what I had seen about Mass Communication in foreign college movies: I expected it to be all about movie shooting and broadcasting 24/7, because my elder sister used to tease me about it. I expected little theory and tonnes of practicals like in the movies. Whichever way it went, I also expected to have fun whilst doing both the practical and theoretical aspects of my fate-chosen course.

            Now, one semester into my eight-semester stint, I am what my daddy would call a “bona fide student of Mass Communication.” I can’t say all my expectations have been met, but some sure have been exceeded, like the zeal of my lecturers. The part I love most (so far) is getting to hold a camera (a real, big, digital camera: not the pocket type everyone has, but the big one professionals use) and taking different shots with it.  But I think I’ll be speaking for every student here if I say we don’t get to do that often enough. 

            I am not having the time of my life in Mass Communication but God knows, I feel fulfilled here.

            So what area will I specialise in? Broadcast, journalism, public relations, advertising?

            The glamour of being seen on TV pulls me just as strongly as the lure of being the sultry, soothing voice people tune in to hear.

            The power of the written word and the explosive pieces I would write to win the CNN African Journalist of the Year Award is an equally potent call.

            But then, being the image maker of a conglomerate and helping it consolidate its base is just as exotic, while I know I could turn out a mean copy or campaign that would convince a Bayelsa Boy to buy crude oil imported from Australia. So I wonder: can’t I just do them all?

            Early days yet to decide, I guess.  Early days yet.