The Coordinator of the Wole Soyinka Investigative Centre for Journalism, Mrs Motunrayo Alaka was recently the guest speaker at the monthly fellowship of Journalists For Christ International Outreach during which she spoke on Maximising Media Fellowships, Awards and Training.
After her presentation, Lekan Otufodunrin asked her what she thinks journalists should improve on in their professional practice.
Her suggestions are as follows:
Pay more attention to details
Journalists should pay more attention to details in their reports. There are sometimes too many gaps in stories that raise more questions than answers.
There are too many stories with people that cannot be contacted for their own sides of the story. You can get the required response if you insist that that that is your standard for publishing.
Improve on dressing
Journalists should avoid dressing casually in a way that may not earn them the respect they deserve from the people they are reporting. Know the assignment you are attending and dress appropriately for the occasion.
The way you appear can open doors for you.
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Network with colleagues
There are many great minds in journalism who are excellent in what they do. Journalists should contact their colleagues locally and abroad, tell them what they do and can do. Nigerian journalists are not inferior in any way to foreign journalists.
Engage more
The name of the game of journalism is engagement. Engage with your colleagues and sources beyond editorial work. Call and check on people. Everything you do should not be about getting stories and scoops.