Eunice Ayobami who participated in a training for entry-level female journalists, writes on the insights shared by the facilitators and lessons learnt by the participants.
It was an opportunity for unlearning, learning, and relearning requirements for excelling and overcoming gender limitations in the media industry for entry-level female journalists at the one-day capacity-building workshop held in Lagos on Friday, June 16, 2023.
The workshop was organised by the Publisher of BONews, Blessing Oladunjoye as her project for the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) Female Reporters Leadership Programme.
The three speakers at the programme, Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Dr Adeola Ekine, Deputy Editor, Eagle Online, Mrs Juliana Francis and the Executive Director of Media Career Development Network, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin in their presentations generously shared their vast experiences on the job which the participants said were insightful.
“I learnt that you can do better and not be dormant even in the newsroom. Delve into every area apart from your supposed beat and excel in all ramifications,” said Bunmi Ishola of the Nigeria Tribune.
Ekine spoke about the importance of mentors for young female journalists in the profession, noting that it is a two-way beneficial relationship that allows the mentee to provide value to their mentor, just as the mentor provides guidance and support to the mentee.
“Mentorship plays a vital role in the personal and professional development of the career of female journalists,” she stated and urged the participants to carefully find suitable mentors who they can easily relate with.
She said NAWOJ is dedicated to fostering unity and providing a support platform for women journalists in the profession.
Otufodunrin, a renowned media career development specialist foundly described as ‘mentors of mentors’ enlightened the participants on breaking leadership limitations in the newsroom, building a support system, and standing out in the profession.
He noted that some of the challenges facing women journalists include the hectic nature of the newsroom, working with difficult bosses, balancing family and work issues and other career frustrations which they have to learn to cope with.
To overcome limitations for female leadership in newsrooms, he advised that women journalists have to be outstanding in their performance and know they may need to prove that they are better than their male colleagues considering the biased mindset of male media managers.
Otufodunrin said they should read the biographies of outstanding female journalists and when necessary move on to other aspects of journalism that will not hinder their career progression.
Francis, an award-winning investigative journalist urged female journalists to perfect the act of multi-tasking considering the various demand for their attention at work and home.
According to her, female journalists should consciously acquire the necessary skills that can make it obvious that they have what it takes to perform any task assigned to them.
She urged the participants to be mindful of sexual harassment in the newsroom and the beat considering that most media organisations do not have sexual harassment policy to protect women.
In her welcome address, Oladunjoye explained that training tagged Leading (Media) Ladies is meant to address the challenges hindering women from staying long enough in the profession to accomplish their career growth.
The focus on entry-level female journalists, Oladunjoye explained is to provide relevant support for them without which they may leave and limit the possibility of women becoming leaders in the newsrooms
Otufodunrin gave copies of his books, The Journalist You Ought To Be and Dateline Cardiff and the 2022 Media Capacity Development Report to participants.
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PARTICIPANTS COMMENTS
Participants who spoke with MCDN shared lessons learnt at the training.
“I learnt that as a woman you should earn respect by doing your job well. Also when you want to go for an assignment you should ask politely. On mentorship, it is very important to get a mentor. Mentors serve as a guide to one. One can have both male and female mentors but one needs to be careful with a male mentor”.
Esi-ife Arogundade, an intern with Top Radio Lagos 90.9
“The training was actually a way of empowering female Journalists on how to emerge as leaders in the newsroom.
I learnt that you can do better and not be dormant even in the newsroom. Delve into every area apart from your supposed beat and excel in all ramifications.
I learnt the importance of Mentorship in Journalism and how your mentor can help you to do exploits if you are patient enough and willing to learn. I also learnt about getting a mentor you can flow with and who at least speaks the same language as you so.
I also learnt about how you can excel as an Investigative Reporter as much as it could be a dangerous field to delve into. I learnt that you have to come out of your comfort zone if you are to excel as a Journalist and you shouldn’t be expecting to be given an Olive branch. You should be able to work as much as everyone if you want to be distinct and known in the field you have chosen as your own path in life.
I also learnt some ways by which I can overcome some hurdles associated with the world of Journalism, especially as a woman and how I can scale through them.”
Bunmi Ishola, a Senior Reporter with the Nigerian Tribune.
“So yesterday was an encouragement for me. Prior to the training, I had been facing some challenges career-wise. Wasn’t sure if I wanted to go on or move to another field. But yesterday, Mrs Juliana Francis made a statement, she asked why journalism. There and then I gave it a thought and I went back to the reason why I chose Journalism in the first place.I realized that I was still in love with it and wanted to do it despite the challenges and setbacks that I was facing. I knew I didn’t just choose journalism, it called my name as she said. So simply put yesterday’s training was an encouragement for me, a reminder of how I started and a hope of what could still be for me career-wise. It was a life changer,”
–Anonymous Participant
