Otufodunrin @ 50: Reinventing journalism in Nigeria

Otufodunrin cutting his birthday cake

ADA DIKE

Families, friends, mass media practitioners and students, last Friday, May 9, 2014, gathered at the Auditorium of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, to celebrate the teacher of teachers and the Editor, Online and Special Publication of The Nation Newspapers, Lagos, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin who clocked 50.

Unlike other birthday celebrations where people would wear uniform (Aso-ebi) and dance till dusk, it was an avenue by which mass communication professionals shared ideas and journalism students learned a few things on media career development.

 The chairman of the occasion, President Guild of Editors and Managing Director, Sun Newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina moderated the event and emphasized the need for professionalism in journalism. He advised the students to pick some journalists who have done well in the vocation as their mentors.   

Similarly, the celebrant and author of three books, Otufodunrin, while delivering his birthday lecture, titled: “Reinventing Journalism practice in Nigeria: The need for conscious media career development,” traced the beginning of his career in journalism to 1984, when he was an intern in the defunct National Concord newspapers and revealed that that three months plus experience in many ways prepared him for what has turned out to be his long sojourn in journalism which from every indication would not end soon.

The President, Journalists for Christ, Nigeria, emphasized on the need for media organisations and individuals to show more than passing interest in helping to train up-coming journalists and urged media organizations to have budget for the training of their staff.

In his words: “Right from media training institutions for those who have the opportunity to attend one,  to the various media houses there is a yearning gap for the implementation of well articulated media industry relevant training and career support for journalists.

“I acknowledge that there are indeed some efforts being made but what we need is a coordinated approach to ensuring that journalists are well trained in media training institutions. That some Mass Communication students graduate these day don’t have what it takes to work in a media house is a reflection of the quality of training they are getting and how obsolete the curriculum is. There is need for a well defined working relationship between media training institutions and media organisations. If the graduates are being produced to work in media organisations, the training institutions should work with the employers to produce the right quality of graduates.

“I don’t know how many media houses budget for training of their staff. Some media houses have training managers, but in some instances such positions are ‘Siberia’ postings, if you know what I mean. My experience is that we have largely abandoned training of journalists to Media Non Governmental Organisations, who understandably have their own agenda and focus. NGO trainings unfortunately do not cover many area of media coverage. Most times, they are in the areas of health, human rights and a few others,” he said.

In the same vein, the discussants of the lecture comprising: Editor, Sunday Punch, Toyosi Ogunseye, Executive Director, Media Support Centre, Wale Fatade, and Funke Treasure, Controller, Corporate Development, Research and Strategy, Radio Nigeria, Lagos Operations Funke Treasure also stressed the need for training.

Wale Fatade was of the opinion that ethical journalism was fast varnishing, meaning that journalism is in crisis. 

He explained the difference a job and a career and noted that “one thing that is missing in journalism is mentoring. Training is very important. Set aside certain amount from your earning and use it to develop yourself.”

Funke Treasure stated that transference of one’s experience and knowledge to younger colleagues is important. She cited Late Omololu Falobi, a journalist who 

set up a non-governmental organization on health issues, as an example of the few journalists who people are benefiting from their works after their demise.

She maintained that many journalists were not schooled and said that “talent can take you far but training can take you further.”

 Toyosi Ogunseye urged everyone to seek opportunities in order to grow, know the company they keep and have mentors that would encourage them in their career.

The event also featured exhibition of Otufodunrin’s publications and others by Media Non Governmental Organisations.