The media industry has become an industry for all. Technology makes this easy but the real professionals are few. There are basic skills that set professionals apart. In many cases, the quality of story and report produced always betray the quacks from those who understand that there are ethics and professional demand for every impactful reporting or story.
Saturday 4 October, 2023 presented a great opportunity for the Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals to sharpen the skills of about 55 campus journalists who are members of Union of Campus Journalists of the University of Ibadan. The theme of the workshop is “Reporting for Impact”. The programme aims among other things to position the next generation of Nigeria and African journalists/broadcasters for the world of work in the media.
In addition, the project aims to build the skills of early career journalists. Majorly youth, so they can push for the youth voices in democracy and open governance through ethical and professional news content production and publishing.
Declaring the programme open, Yinka Olaito who is the Executive Director of the organisation, charged the campus journalists to understand the role they play in their community and in the society at large. Olaito said “You must understand as a media practitioner that whatever you put out there must be factual as such content can inflame or make the society great”.
Yinka caution that there are basic issues that must not be overlooked in every reporting or story published. Those who go out just to inflame the society with fake news will not also be spared. Yinka emphasised that reports are not just done or published so as to attract attention.
There must be a good reason for each story. Many just commence their story writing without a focus in mind. “You cannot be a good story teller except you also learn to listen, read, observe and pay focused attention on the issues without adding your egos or emotions into the report.”. Those who do such do not last and they are easily forgotten over time.
Damilola Fajinmi, a broadcast journalist, who also spoke in value of indigenous news reporting emphasised indigenous languages are becoming more relevant in media reporting as days go by. According to Damilola, “Indigenous languages are not barriers to media reporting. They are an added advantage for engagement”. Damilola took her case study from her indigenous language focused programme she runs “Sabi Ya Health”.
The President of the Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ibadan chapter, Tobi Odeyinka, was full of praises for Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals for an impactful session which include among other value – Insights on impactful journalism, Hands-on reporting techniques, expert sessions, networking opportunities, indigenous languages use media and reporting
Campus Journalists/Participants at the workshopParticipants in the workshop expressed the opportunity they had as well as professional knowledge transferred during the session. Lawal Taiwo Yusuf, a member of the Union commended AFYMP for co-hosting with their union such a professionally enriching session.
