Please make the best use of opportunities journalism offers you globally.
This morning, I clicked through to a link Ruona J. Meyer shared on Facebook about the 2019 One World Media Award long list.
She had written about how excited she was to read that Sweet Codeine, which she pitched, investigated, co-produced and presented for BBC made the list and also congratulated Africa Eye Lady Nyasha and Busari Kemi of Premium Times for being on the possible winners list in other categories.
Reading through the long list of all the categories and seeing names of journalists across the globe ( some freelance and from little known organizations) reminded me of the article below which I wrote in 2016.
While there are many challenges in being a journalist in Nigeria, there are also many opportunities we take for granted or simply ignore.
I did not click out of the oneworldmedia.org.uk without subscribing to the newsletter of the international media organization to keep abreast of its various training, resources and events.
That is the least one can do to broaden his or her horizon about the profession. There are many other media organizations with opportunities journalists can benefit from.
I have been privileged to attend many local and international programmes and seen the world simply because I dared to ask to be given a chance.
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Even when I don’t get invited, I do my best to follow the organizations on their websites and social media platforms like I did last week for the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy. I learnt a lot reading the tweets of the participants which I am already applying in my practice.
Instead of complaining of what journalism has not done for us, my advice is that we make the best use of what is available to get what we want and really deserve.