In Burkina Faso, journalism student Ifzou Kiemdé has presented a detailed evaluation of the role and impact of news columns on RTB Radio in 2024, offering a series of recommendations to improve content quality and audience engagement.
Kiemdé, a student in cycle A at the Institute of Information and Communication Sciences and Technology (ISTIC), defended his internship thesis on Tuesday, 23 September 2025. His research earned him a score of 18 out of 20, along with praise from the evaluation jury for its thoroughness and relevance.
The jury, composed of Elie Zan (president), Nayalgdo Paul Sawadogo (rapporteur), and thesis director Baba Hama, commended Kiemdé for the seriousness of his study and the practical insights it provided into broadcast journalism practices.
Kiemdé’s research combined surveys of 200 listeners, interviews with communications directors, and the analysis of 12 broadcast chronicles.
He found that while more than half of listeners considered the columns useful, there were notable shortcomings: thematic angles often lacked diversity and depth, columnists had limited specialised training, and audience expectations were not consistently met.
To address these issues, Kiemdé proposed several improvements. These included extending the economic column to cover the entire week, diversifying themes to include sports, security, and agriculture, implementing journalist specialisation policies, and establishing production guidelines for columns. He also recommended creating support desks, converting chronicles into podcasts, broadcasting them live with filmed programmes, and reinforcing specialised training at ISTIC.
“This thesis is intended as a modest contribution to improving the RTB Radio news program,” Kiemdé said, emphasising that further research should assess how effectively columns raise public awareness on the topics they address.
The study reflects growing interest in the professionalisation and modernisation of Burkina Faso’s media landscape. By focusing on audience needs, content quality, and journalist training, Kiemdé’s work offers practical insights for enhancing public broadcasting and strengthening the impact of radio journalism in the country.
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