Form 3^rd to 19 June 2025, RGB through its Media Sector Coordination Department will be visiting some journalism training institutions and media houses operating in Rwanda within framework of discussing with the RGB stakeholders on opportunities, challenges and possible solutions for a professional, vibrant, free, responsible and sustainable media.

This tour started at Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK) where Jean Bosco Rushingabigwi, the Head of the Media Sector Coordination Department held discussions with ICK ICK leadership and staff from the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Studies.

In this meeting, Rushingabigwi emphasized the importance of ensuring journalism education equips students with practical, up-to-date skills needed in today’s fast-evolving media landscape

The objectives of the visit to journalism training institutions including looking at the topics covered by the curricula; the ratio between the theoretical sessions and practical sessions (assignments, internships) of the training curricula and the available human resources and their areas of specializations or of interest, among others. 

In the media houses, RGB will look at mechanisms put in place to discuss issues affecting media practitioners and staff in terms of working conditions and for efficient business management, knowledge and ownership of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy and to discuss with the media houses leadership on key challenges and possible solutions, among other. 

From various past engagements and from various study findings, three key issues emerged regularly as seriously affecting media professionalism and the development of the media sector in general namely the mismatch between the curricula of the journalism training institutions and the needs on the media market, the difficult working conditions for media practitioners and the difficult financial sustainability of media businesses.   

Through its Media Sector Coordination and Monitoring Department, RGB planned to visit all the 4 journalism training institutions in Rwanda, as well as a number of media houses representing the various categories in terms of ownership, editorial line and size. 

At the end of this tour, RGB expects to have a comprehensive policy brief summarising key finding, policy gaps, and actionable recommendations which will be submitted to competent organs for informed decision-making.