A faith-based organisation, Journalists for Christ (JFC) has trained young journalists on how to excel in the profession despite the challenges profession.
President of the group, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin who spoke at the fellowship held in Lagos last Saturday offered insights on what students and young journalists should know about maximizing media career opportunities.
Otufodunrin said they should make excellence their watchword, be purpose-driven, and have a mission statement and career plans with timelines.
“ You must read widely, including about journalists you want to be like and avoid career mistakes of those ahead of you made,” he said adding that there are training opportunities, conferences and awards for interested journalists.
He also urged them to take internship opportunities seriously and volunteer to get the necessary experience.
“ There are ethics of the profession and higher Biblical commandments that should guide you. Don’t be scared by the negative stories about the profession. You can succeed where others succeed.” Otufodunrin who is the Executive Director of Media Career Development Network stated.
While urging the participants to be very spiritual while discharging their professional duties, he said they should not think they are in the profession by mistake.
“God has a purpose for you in the media which you must fulfil. You must be prayerful and commit everything you do to God,” he counselled.
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A participant in the fellowship, Managing Editor of RoundCheck, Adesola Ikulajolu said the training was another eye-opening event for him to learn more and widen his horizon.
“It met my expectations because it was a session to reflect on what I already know and understand better ways to deploy it in my career. Young Journalists should strive to go out for more opportunities as the profession requires strong and passionate individuals with consistency.”
He advised young journalists to write till they get familiar with their writing style and could deliver at any point, adding that the industry should embrace the newcomers and teach them the right ethics of the profession.
Precious Akintolubo, Founder of Horeah TV who also said she learnt a lot from the training said it was inspiring to hear the success story of the speaker and see pictures of his accomplishments.
“Pray for a breakthrough and also prepare for a breakthrough’ was the quote I held at the training as I was flabbergasted with the number of books given to journalists at the training to widen their careers and my insights were met as I had to network with new opportunities.”
Another attendee, Oluwaseun Opeyemi, a business content writer at Dannygold Foods said she was happy about the fellowship.
” I networked with several media personnel who are already making money from Journalism. I appreciated the books given to me at the fellowship as I have been craving to have such journalistic journals.
The fellowship was attended by student journalists from various institutions, and young and experienced journalists across print, broadcast and multimedia organisations.
