Why Journalism Education Must Evolve – And What GIBS Taught Me About the Future of Media

The first cohort of the GIBS Executive Programme in Media Leadership.

This week, I walked into a room and immediately felt at home.

I knew I was in the right place when it felt safe to say, “I don’t know,” without fear of judgment, when I was surrounded by leaders who truly see you, who are just as eager to learn as they are to share.

Studying through GIBS has always been a dream of mine. I thought I was ready, but nothing could have prepared me for how much the Executive Programme in Media Leadership would challenge and inspire me. Michael and Styli not only designed a phenomenal programme, but also curated an exceptional group of candidates: brilliant minds, generous spirits, and future changemakers in African media.

Journalism school gave me a foundation. This programme, with its focus on media strategy and sustainability in Africa, has been the missing link in my growth as an aspirant media leader. And it has made one thing very clear: journalism education needs a reset.

We can no longer train journalists for a newsroom that no longer exists. As the media landscape undergoes seismic shifts, journalism schools must prepare the next generation of storytellers not just to report the news, but to build the future of news.

Here’s what I believe should be non-negotiable in any modern journalism curriculum:

1. Innovation as a Core Discipline

Too often, innovation is seen as something optional, an “add-on” for those who happen to be tech-savvy or entrepreneurial. But innovation is survival. Students must be encouraged to think like product designers, systems thinkers, and audience developers. How do we rebuild trust? How do we serve communities in new ways? These are not side projects; they are central to the future of journalism.

2. The New-Age Newsroom

Today’s newsrooms are not just physical spaces, they are hybrid, decentralized, collaborative, and increasingly automated. Future journalists must understand the realities of remote workflows, cross-functional teams, real-time analytics, and audience-driven content strategies. Journalism schools need to teach newsroom leadership, not just newsroom entry.

3. Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Tech

AI is already writing headlines, detecting misinformation, and tailoring content distribution. It's not the future, it's the now. Rather than fearing it, students should be taught how to critically engage with AI tools, understand the ethics of automation, and innovate responsibly. A media leader who doesn’t understand AI will soon be irrelevant.

4. The Business of Journalism

Journalism is not immune to the laws of economics. We must equip journalists with the skills to understand business models, revenue diversification, fundraising, audience monetization, and the economic levers that power (or collapse) media houses. Sustainability is strategy.

If journalism schools want to remain relevant, they must produce more than great reporters. They must develop leaders, people who can innovate, manage, collaborate, and adapt. People who understand that journalism is both a public good and a business.

The GIBS Executive Programme in Media Leadership reminded me that this future is not far off, it’s already happening. And if we’re serious about media freedom, representation, and African ownership in the global media space, we must start by reimagining how we teach journalism itself.

To anyone passionate about innovation, strategy, data analytics, and driving the future of media in Africa, this is the programme that will push you to the next level. It certainly did that for me.