Just when it seemed he was going to focus on being the publisher of Communiqué, a media and tech analysis newsletter with over 35,000 subscribers, David Adeleke took up the offer of being the Africa Editor at Rest of World.
A graduate of Mass Communication/Media Studies from Covenant University, Otta, Adeleke had earlier headed Business Insider Africa and worked as an editor at Ventures Africa and TechCabal and as Head of Communications at Eko Atlantic City. His reports have been published in The Continent, Al Jazeera, and Guardian Life.
He is a Media and Journalism Fellow with the Charles Koch Institute and holds a certificate in Storytelling for Modern Media from Yale University.
In this online interview with Media Career Development Network, Adeleke gives some insights about his work at Rest of World, media in the continent, the skills required to excel in the profession locally and globally and other issues.
What has been your experience commissioning stories for Rest of World’s Africa coverage in terms of the quality of pitches and diversity?
I’ve gotten a fairly diverse spread of pitches from different countries. But most of the pitches have come from Nigerian freelance journalists, which makes me wonder if this is because I, the editor, am Nigerian or if I’m not doing a good enough job of reaching out to journalists outside my immediate circle. Whatever the case is, I’m working to improve the situation. I also noticed that most of the pitches come from male journalists, which, in my opinion, could be a reflection of the overall gender distribution within the industry. That said, I would encourage more female journalists to send their pitches to Rest of World.
What is your advice for journalists interested in sending pitches to your organization and other global platforms?
Anyone looking to pitch Rest of World must first understand who we are and what we cover, then they must understand how we cover the beats we cover. We are a technology publication, and all our stories must have that element. But beyond that, we care about stories that clearly explore how technology is impacting people and institutions. We don’t just cover technology for the sake of it, we care about how people interact with it and how it affects their lives.
It’s also important to us that people send pitches about actual stories rooted in events and data, not just broad topics. For example, don’t send pitches about “migration in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem”, that is a broad topic, and we won’t commission such a story. Instead, look deeper, ask hard questions, talk to actual people, and see if there are common experiences you can build a report on. Prove to us that you’ve put in the work to research the story. We respect that.
What are the major technology and digital media stories that need to be reported more than ever before?
Venture capital and startups get most of the attention in tech in Africa, but a lot more remains underexplored. How are Africans adopting and interacting with new technology? How do governments across the continent think about tech policy? What is the relationship between politics and technology on the continent? How are legacy companies adapting to new business models inspired by new technology? These are some of the underexplored stories we should be looking at.
What is your assessment of the Nigerian media industry compared with that of other major African countries like South Africa and Kenya?
South Africa’s media ecosystem is more developed than Nigeria’s, as seen in the sheer size of companies like Multichoice, eMedia, SABC, etc. Nigerian and Kenyan media still have a long way to go in that regard. But they’ve all come a long way in their own rights. They’ve seen growth and witnessed unique sets of challenges. That said, generally, as a continent, our media industries need more investment and better innovation.
Your appointment with the Rest of World was a surprise as it was assumed that you will be working full-time on CMQ Media. What influenced your decision for the new job?
I realized very quickly that I wasn’t ready for long-term entrepreneurship just yet, not full-time at least. There’s still so much I need to learn about the world from other people and from experience. Joining Rest of World was a fantastic opportunity I couldn’t pass up, and I can already see I made the right choice. It’s a lovely place to work. Lovely!
What is required to get major roles like your present one in the international media?
We need more African media professionals who actively look to play on the global stage and aim for those roles. You can always tell the difference between someone who is comfortable being locally or regionally relevant and someone who wants to be globally relevant. The mindset, skills, and network you aim to acquire are specific to where you want to go.
How well are Nigerian journalists maximizing global media opportunities and trends?
Many Nigerian journalists are putting in the work. I see this every day. People who wake up and are constantly striving for more. I commend them for that, and we need more opportunities to open up. If those opportunities come, we will take them. I trust my people.
How well did studying Mass Communication prepare you for your work experience so far and what else have you done to enhance your skills?
Honestly, my university degree hasn’t contributed much to my career. Whatever I am now is because of the work I’ve put in and the goodness of countless people who believe in me, regardless of what I studied in school. The real value came from all the work I did outside class – the extra hours working as a student editor, the hours spent interning at a radio and TV station in Asaba, my personal obsession with understanding the media business and landscape globally. School helped, but it was a small fraction of everything.
What’s your advice for students and aspiring media professionals?
Step outside whatever your lecturers are teaching you in class and gain real-world experience. Take up internships, volunteer for organizations, and learn how to use tech tools by yourself. I remember teaching myself how to use Adobe InDesign and Photoshop because we needed to design a school magazine.
Even outside of school, I’ve always liked to learn new things and explore new ideas. I’ve read books about business, technology, psychology, behavioural economics, etc. For any media professional, the goal should always be to acquire high-value skills and be able to operate at the highest level.
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