Faculty of Arts and Design | DUT Media, Language and Communication

Head of Department: Dr R L Makhubu
Administrative Assistant: Ms L Mbhele
Tel: 031 373 5143
Fax: 031 373 6734
Location: ML Sultan Campus
Media, Language and Communication Handbook
Go to programme of:
Journalism
Journalism Handbook
Language Practice
Translation and Interpreting Practice
Language and Translation Handbook
English and Communication
Communication Handbook
Vision
Leaders in Language, Translation, and Interpreting in South African Universities of Technology.
Mission
We strive to provide a strong translation, interpreting and linguistic base to our learners by instilling a broad cultural and linguistic understanding to be leading exponents in the South African multilingual and multicultural context.

Journalism

Secretary: Ms L P Ntombela
Tel: 031 373 6614
Fax: 031 373 6623
Location: City Campus L1 R13
Description of the Programme
A journalist gathers, processes and presents news and current affairs material in the public interest for broad audience consumption. Media channels include radio, television, online, newspapers and magazines in beats such as Africa, arts, business, courts and crime, culture, health, human rights, fashion, labour, politics, sport, technology, travel and tourism. Editorial positions offer exciting career development potential. Freelance journalists can enjoy greater flexibility in their work.
Personal Qualities Required
The following skills and values are essential to good journalism:
Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written. Journalists who are fluent in more than one language enjoy greatly improved working opportunities. Journalists require a strong work ethic and should be committed to the constitutional principles of freedom of expression. Highly literate with strong analytical skills. A street-wise sense about social behaviours. Good general knowledge. Good memory. Punctuality.
The successful journalist is also responsible, adaptable, self-disciplined, inquisitive and enthusiastically interested in people and events. Those who want to become editors should also have commercial instinct and leadership skills and will need to pursue the B.Tech: Journalism and MTech: Journalism.
Media Environment
Places of work vary from home offices to hi-tech modern media institutions like the SABC, e.tv, Al-Jazeera, CNN and BBC. Whether you freelance or head up a media empire, work-hours are irregular and long – they often include nights, weekends and public holidays. You will quickly be expected to source and gather your own stories. The work is highly stimulating, analytical but exhausting. Although teamwork is important, much of the work is solitary as the journalist chases the story and researches background information. Journalists are expected to travel to find the news, often at short notice, and must therefore be able to drive. Most journalists spend hours in interviews, writing and editing their stories. Starting salaries are very attractive but senior journalists and editors earn salaries that could compare with other professions.
Assessment
The system of continuous assessment is employed across all learning areas in all subjects. The emphasis is on growth and development of the student. Accordingly, there are no summative examinations as the programmes are not intended to test retentive memory.
Work-integrated Learning
Work-Integrated Learning is a compulsory component in the National Diploma: Journalism. Students are required to undergo such learning in the 2nd semester of the 3rd year of study. Inasmuch as DUT Journalism and/or the Co-operative Education Unit have an alert system to opportunities in industry, the onus is on students to secure placements.
Career Opportunities
News and feature writing for newspapers, magazines and current affairs websites provide a major source of employment. Developments in radio and television present numerous opportunities. Advertising and public relations companies are also keen to employ good writers.
Entry Requirements
National Diploma Journalism
Bachelor Technology Journalism
Master of Technology Journalism

Language Practice

Secretary: Ms B Ndlela
Tel: 031 373 6804
Fax: 031 373 6734
Location: ML Sultan Campus, 3rd Floor, Mariam Bee
VISION
Leaders in Language, Translation, and Interpreting in South African Universities of Technology.
MISSION
We strive to provide a strong translation, interpreting and linguistic base to our learners by instilling a broad cultural and linguistic understanding to be leading exponents in the South African multilingual and multicultural context.
INSTRUCTIONAL OFFERINGS
Entry Requirements
National Diploma Language Practice
Bachelor Technology Language Practice
Master of Technology Language Practice
Doctor of Technology Language Practice

Translation and Interpreting Practice

Secretary: Ms B Ndlela
Tel: 031 373 6804
Fax: 031 373 6734
Location: ML Sultan Campus, 3rd Floor, Mariam Bee
VISION
Leaders in Language, Translation, and Interpreting in South African Universities of Technology.
MISSION
We strive to provide a strong translation, interpreting and linguistic base to our learners by instilling a broad cultural and linguistic understanding to be leading exponents in the South African multilingual and multicultural context.
INSTRUCTIONAL OFFERINGS
Entry Requirements
National Diploma Translation and Interpreting Practice
Bachelor of Technology Translation and Interpreting Practice

English and Communication

(Subject Service Unit)
Secretary: Ms P Mseleku
Tel: 031 373 2823 / 373 6767
Fax: 031 373 2822
Location: Steve Biko Campus, S3 L1
English and Communication teaches in all faculties and approximately 44 programmes across all the delivery sites of the Durban University of Technology in Durban.
The mission of English and Communication of the Durban University of Technology is to strive to improve our learners’ communication knowledge, skills and attitudes.Through our teaching, research and community service, we seek to develop and enhance the ability of students and members of the wider community more effectively to express their interests, understand others, and contribute to the aesthetic, social, and cultural environments in which they live and work.
As a service department, English and Communication does not register students for a specific academic programme. English and Communication engages in regular curricular review to ensure that the subject outcomes align with those of serviced programmes, and of the critical cross-field outcomes, in particular:

Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation.
Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.
Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organization, community.
Collect, analyse, organize and critically evaluate information.