Leverage social media in media practice but be credible – Beatrice Adu to UniMAC students

By Hagar Fosuah

Seasoned journalist and co-host of TV3 New Day, Beatrice Adu, has urged journalism students at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) to take advantage of social media to build their portfolio while stressing the need for credibility to be prioritized.

She was speaking during a workshop, held on 27th March, 2026, on the university’s South Legon campus.

The event was organised by the School of Journalism and Media Studies (SOJAMS) to equip students with practical knowledge on journalism in contemporary times, where online journalism has become mainstream.

Ms. Adu highlighted the growing relevance of social media, describing it as a form of “currency” in today’s media landscape.

According to her, many individuals are leveraging social platforms to create content and generate income, but she warned that credibility must not be compromised.

“Build your social, and thank me later, but be credible because that comes with it,” she advised.

During her nearly 60-minute presentation, she encouraged students to make use of available tools, including digital platforms, to verify information before publication.

“We should be able to talk about what the problem is and verify it,” she said, stressing that accuracy remained a key pillar of journalism.

She cautioned that in the course of their work as journalists, students will encounter difficult situations that will test their ethics and professionalism.

She urged them not to allow such circumstances to derail the work they do.

The Friday afternoon session formed part of efforts by SOJAMS to prepare students for the evolving demands of the media industry.

Dean of SOJAMS, Professor Etse Sikanku, was also at the event and said that the workshop was a key compliment of what the students were studying in the lecture halls.

He stressed the crucial role of practical education in media practice.

“It is not about getting a first-class degree. A first-class degree can show that you think and you can make sense of an event,” he noted. “But can you apply that in the real world setting?”

He encouraged students to attend such events, reminding them that it was the reason they had chosen to read journalism.

The seminar room where the event was held was filled to the brim as the students, most of whom were in the first year, followed the session intently.

Following the event, the students had the opportunity to closely engage with Ms. Adu and take photographs with her.