Media Lab’s video and digital news platforms go live

Students and staff in RP can now get their dose of campus news on RepTV, RP’s first ever broadcast news magazine, and the online version of The Republican Post newspaper.

Both went live on August 15 during the soft launch of the Centre for Enterprise and Communication (CEC) Media Lab. The Media Lab is a newsroom for students in the Diploma in Mass Communication (DMC) to work on industry and school projects as well as produce The Republican Post, a quarterly print publication.

A total of 30 guests, including Mr Heng Guan Teck, Deputy Principal of Republic Polytechnic, Dr Michael Koh, Senior Director of Academic Services, Mr Ganesh Kalyanam, Director of Office of Student and Graduate Affairs, and Mr Fong Yew Chan, Senior Director of Student Services and Planning, attended the event. They watched RepTV’s inaugural episode, explored the online Republican Post and flipped through the second issue of the newspaper for a fully multimedia experience.

MediaLab_Mursyid
NEWS GALORE: (from left) Mr Sundar W, Registrar, Mr Eric Teo, Chief Financial Officer and Mr Tan Huan Peow, Director of ACE@RP flip through the second issue of the revamped Republican Post newspaper. (Photo: Muhammad Mursyid bin Hassan)

Mr Heng said the Media Lab was “instrumental” in the development of DMC students. “It can help them to solve problems and be industry-ready, allowing them to have an edge over the others,” he said.

Some of the industry tie-ups include a PR project with Barclays-Habitat for the Humanity Bare Your Sole event, and the Public Service Division for a video commemorating Public Service Week. The latter earned a mention from Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Students involved in the Media Lab echoed similar views about the newsroom helping them gain useful skills and experience.

“Being part of the Media Lab has its challenges but it has definitely given me experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything else,” said third-year DMC student and Republican Post news editor Mysara Aljaru, 19.

Mr Warren Wang, Director of CEC, hoped that the increased awareness for the Media Lab’s activities will lead to more stories on RP’s events as well as garner more external projects. He said: “This will create more opportunities for our students and help them gain more experience.”