Bridging the theory-practice gap between journalism education and contemporary newsrooms in Ghana

The gap between journalism education and the demands of contemporary newsroom raises concerns about graduates’ readiness for the workforce. Despite curricular reforms, the theory-practice gap persists. This study examines the gap between newsroom expectations and journalism education. Data were collected through interviews with journalists and educators, and focus group discussions with journalism students. Guided by experiential learning theory, the findings reveal curriculum limitations in journalism education, theory-driven pedagogy, and weak industry-academia collaboration. Students’ preparedness to meet industry demands is partial and largely dependent on access to practical experience. This study argues that the theory-practice gap reflects a disruption of the experiential learning cycle. The study proposes Experiential Learning-Industry Alignment Model (ELAM), which emphasises the role of institutional alignment in shaping professional competence. The findings highlight the need for systemic reforms to strengthen the integration of theory and practice in journalism education.