The 2023 edition of the Female Reporters Leadership Programme ( FRLP) by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism commenced on March 3 in Lagos with 12 participants from across media organisations in the country.
Below are major insightful tweets from the Day One session by the facilitators.
Equity is not matriarchy. ReportWomen is not about women taking over, rather that women are human beings and should have the freedom to aspire, dream and be ambitious. – Motunrayo Alaka; Executive Director, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism @D_Encourager
There is a need to have women as expert sources in news development. – Motunrayo Alaka; Executive Director, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism @D_Encourager
You cannot be an investigative journalist who just accepts everything hook, line and sinker. You must ask questions. – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
What we need in our line of work (investigative reporting) are mentors. Look for the people who have made a difference in our line of work and follow them. Your organisation does not owe you to train you. – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
Getting in the frame of mind for your work needs a particular mindset. You have to get into the needed character to make your investigative report a success. – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
Many people confuse investigative reporting with telling a normal story. Normal stories have no element of risk, no undercover activities. Investigative reporting goes beyond going out. You are either the originator of the story or you know something. – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
“To do an investigative story, ponder on these three things:
- What do you know?
- What research have you done?
- Who are your sources?” – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
When there is no story, that’s when there is a story. A reaction does not have to be a statement. – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
Sometimes, we need to grab the bulls by the horns. Stand up when you perceive an injustice against you. Never settle for what you do not want and do not be afraid. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
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You need to understand the dynamic nature of journalism. Journalism and discipline are one and the same; there are rules and regulations. Let’s try to be professional in our biases. – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
Be broad-minded in your engagement. Be informed about your subject matter. Knowing your subject matter and situating it gives it the depth that it needs. – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
“Stay in touch. Understand what is going on. The business of broadcasting [media] is dynamic and is forever evolving. Continue to reinvent yourself.” – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
“To develop competence and build confidence leading the newsroom, you need to know who your audience is. If you look at your demography and it is the business community, do more of it!”- Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News @sdin_jacob
Female reporters should go out of their way to embrace change. They should equip themselves with the needed skills. – Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News TVC News
@sdin_jacob
Some stereotypes determine a woman’s role and limitations. These are sociocultural inhibitions about what a woman can and cannot do. – Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre @abiolaak
‘His-story’ as #history is normally male-oriented while ‘Her-story’ is never told. Eg., Nigeria’s independence is told only from the male perspective though women were an important part of the group that negotiated that independence. – Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre @abiolaak
We have to be deliberate to make women the focus of the news. – Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre @abiolaak
There is a problem when a woman starts defining herself as a man. This is an agreement that being a woman is less than being a man. – Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre @abiolaak
The sex and gender debate: stated women are differentiated by age, ethnicity, religion, education, language, class, and disabilities. – Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre @abiolaak
Testimonies by fellows from previous cohorts of #ReportWomen #FRLP
Knowing you have a team of women that have got your back on your journey was enough takeaway from the #FRLP fellowship. It is a lifelong partnership that money cannot buy.- @eboigbeanita @HumAngle_
I don’t know anyone who has been in this fellowship that has not progressed. – @eboigbeanita @HumAngle_
It is beyond the certificate; it is beyond the name. #ReportWomen #FRLP helped me develop confidence and go beyond the limits to get the results needed. – Political Development Adviser, Norwegian Embassy @QueenExtha
