Olamide Olasupo|Okon Kingsley
PrimeScope, the inaugural e-magazine of ASCOM Press, represents a significant milestone for student journalism within the Department of Mass Communication, The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Its publication demonstrates an attempt to move ASCOM Press beyond routine campus reporting into a broader editorial platform that combines journalism, education, current affairs, leadership, career development, lifestyle and visual storytelling.
The magazine's 34-page structure gives it reasonable breadth, while its contents page shows a deliberate attempt to organize the publication into recognizable editorial sections such as Education & Knowledge, Current Affairs, Innovation & AI Impact, Special Feature, Lifestyle & Fun, and Career & Opportunities. The publication is identified as PrimeScope, Volume 01, Issue 001, July 2026, and a publication of ASCOM Press.
Editorial Direction
One of the strongest aspects of the magazine is its editorial direction. The Editor's Letter identifies graduate unemployment and the disconnect between education and employment as a central concern. It asks whether Nigeria's education system is adapting sufficiently to technological change, entrepreneurship and the changing labour market.
This is an appropriate theme for a student publication because it connects directly with the experiences and anxieties of its primary audience. Rather than treating education simply as classroom activity, the magazine attempts to examine what happens to students after graduation.
The publication also demonstrates an understanding of the changing media environment through its discussion of digital media, journalism, misinformation and the responsibilities of journalists in the digital age.
Content and Story Selection
The range of topics is commendable. The publication does not restrict itself to ASCOM politics or departmental activities. It discusses artificial intelligence, government policies, social media, graduate unemployment, future careers, study techniques, student creativity and digital journalism.
The interview with the ASCOM President is particularly valuable because it gives readers direct access to the association's leadership, its vision, achievements and challenges. The President discusses issues including student participation, leadership responsibilities, the ASCOM secretariat and the future direction of the association.
The feature on ASCOM's "unsung heroes and creatives" is another strong editorial choice. It recognizes that student journalism should not focus exclusively on executives and prominent personalities, but should also identify the writers, photographers, designers, editors and other students contributing behind the scenes.
The career article is also particularly relevant to Mass Communication students because it connects technological transformation with employability and the future of work.
Journalistic Quality
The magazine demonstrates a good understanding of feature writing and magazine-style presentation. Several articles have strong introductions, clear themes and accessible language.
However, this is also where the greatest room for improvement exists. For a publication produced by Mass Communication students, copy-editing should be considerably tighter. There are grammatical, spelling, punctuation and sentence construction errors throughout some sections.
Design and Presentation
The publication clearly aims for a modern magazine identity. The division into sections, use of feature titles, photography pages and executive profiles gives PrimeScope a recognizable personality.
The final pages, including "Photo Speaks" and "ASCOM Press at a Glance," also provide visual closure to the publication.
Institutional Value
Beyond being a magazine, PrimeScope serves as an archive of the 2025/2026 ASCOM experience.
The publication documents the association's leadership, activities, partnerships, training programmes, interviews and initiatives. The section on ASCOM Press's milestones records activities including professional training, social media development, event coverage, collaboration with NIJ and the production of the first edition of PrimeScope.
This archival function should not be underestimated. Student organisations change leadership every academic session, and publications like this preserve institutional memory