Media Career Development specialist, Lekan Otufodunrin writes on how he does what he usually ask journalists to do about maximising career opportunities.
One of the things I know I am guilty of is always asking, sometimes putting pressure on journalists to take advantage of available opportunities.
I seem, like some colleagues say, to make it look that all they need to do is just apply when there are calls for fellowships, awards, grants, and others and they will get it.
Mr Otufodunrin according to some journalists doesn’t know how difficult it is to meet the numerous requirements by funders and organisers of the various projects and programmes.
Why should they keep applying after getting several rejection responses or failing to wins awards they apply for?
Imagine having to compete with numerous applicants, not only in the country but in the continent and globally? Many would wonder.
Some of the Uncle Lekan tribe are likely to have whispered to themselves ” Ko easy beyen” ( It’s not as easy as that).
I sure know that getting through with some of the opportunities is very competitive. It’s as difficult as the camel going through the eye of the needle. It can even be a big gamble.
I have my own piles of nicely written rejection emails I have received over the years and many other failed attempts too, but I don’t stop trying. I learn a lot from some of the rejections. I know when I didn’t apply early enough and when I didn’t have what is required.
I see the profiles of some of those successful and I know they were clearly better than I am based on their profiles.
After taking a long leave from applying for such opportunities to give room for younger colleagues, I decided to subject myself to the rigorous process again and see if there are some new developments I may not be aware of that make applying not worth the trouble for many.
For me, there is no small opportunity, so I applied for a $100 grant that required that I pitched a COVID-19 related Investigative data story.
Though my website is focused on media and not health, gender, and development which could have made it easier, I came up with a pitch on how journalists accessed COVID -19 Vaccine since they are categorized as frontline workers and my pitch was approved.
I partnered with a veteran health editor and we created a database for the report. We conducted nationwide survey and interviews and visited vaccination centres just for a $100 (about N45 then) grant!.
Our very unique report has since been published and a media scholar is about coming up with an academic paper on it based on our findings.
Another opportunity that I could have considered low for me came up after that and it involved not just applying, but going through a three-stage selection process, including having a relevant project and taking a test to confirm my understanding of what Solutions Journalism is all about. I got a younger colleague to help me review my pitch and it was approved.
Long story short, I was named along with four other Nigerian journalists, one of them a mentee from a programme I am a mentor and five Kenyan journalists as Solution Journalism Africa Fellows.
I should mention that this fellowship has a $2,000 ( Two thousand dollars) grant component. How many per cent increase from the first $100?
Very though process for the various opportunities, but, as they say, when the going gets though, the though gets going.
Only those who apply are considered. Only those who persevere, who are daring have a chance of getting what they want.
I thank God for His grace, knowing that with God, nothing is impossible.
