How to Advance Your Media Career In 2013
By Lekan Otufodunrin
One of my media career goals in 2013 is to speak in as many journalism forum as possible and offer media career development support to journalists particularly in Nigeria and in Africa. On January 12, I gave media career talk on the above topic at the monthly meeting of the Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) with over 70 members in attendance. I also spoke on the same topic at the fellowship of the Journalists for Christ and the Ogun State Council of the NUJ in January.
The summary of my counsel on how to advance media career in 2013 is as follows:
REVIEW YOUR CAREER
There is no better time like the beginning of the New Year when it is fashionable to make resolutions to review your career. You need to be sure you are making desired progress.
The question to ask yourself is ‘I’m I where I’m supposed to be at this stage of my career considering the years I have spent in the profession?’. Compared with your contemporaries are you doing well?
If yes, congratulations. If no, you need find out why you are not progressing as you should and work out strategies on how to get to the level you should be at every point in your career.
Even if you think are where you should be, who says you cannot exceed your expectations or break the records by accomplishing your target earlier than you projected or when others normally get to that level.
You cannot afford to be complacent. You should strive to put in extra-ordinary efforts in the discharge of your assignments even if your colleagues are putting in ordinary efforts.
Toyosi Ogunseye, a graduate of Bio-Chemistry from the University of Lagos has just been named the Acting Editor Sunday Punch (from the stable of Nigeria’s largest selling national newspaper) less than ten years in the profession. Journalism is not about how long but how well.
SET CAREER TARGETS
You need to set your career targets for 2013. You should have targets of what you want to achieve this year so that when it is December, you can review your accomplishments and know how well you did.
Write out your targets and constantly review them. If you don’t write them down you may forget and just do what you remember. Set timelines to be sure you are on target.
If you don’t know where you are going or where you should be at a particular time, every where you find yourself will appear to be where you are going or should be.
Journalism can be time consuming and soul draining and if you are not constantly on your guards, you may become a veteran without achieving much in your career.
LEARN NEW MEDIA SKILLS
I remember an advert I saw in The Economist some years ago for an MBA programme about the change in work patterns and the need for everyone to be open to change.
‘Your work is changing, the tools are changing, are you changing?’
So much is changing in media practice now that no journalist can afford to be left behind in the race on the information super highway.
I want to ask every journalist these questions: Journalism is changing, the way we do the work is changing, the tools have changed and are still changing, Are you changing?
We need to be honest about what we don’t know and plan to acquire the skills as comprehensively as possible.
Learn about computer operations beyond been able to type and basic desktop publishing skills. Take advantage of computer training programmes for journalists. Find time out of your busy schedule and acquire useful knowledge for your work as this may determine how long you will be relevant on your job.
Learn more about Internet, social media and other digital media skills. New applications are developed regularly and you have to keep abreast of the changes.
Learn another language as international jobs require working knowledge of another language especially French for English speakers.
IMPROVE YOUR ON-LINE PRESENCE
In this digital age, you need to ensure that your work can be found on line through search engines like Google.
Make sure that your work is uploaded on the websites of your organization and share the links on your social media network accounts.
Have personal websites or blogs to document your work. Chances are that organizations or individual may ‘Google’ your name to check out information about you.
Have functional email accounts and reply your mails promptly.
SPEND QUALITY TIME ONLINE
While you may indulge in social networking, don’t allow it to take too much of your time than the professional work you do. This should include searching for information online about any report you are writing or your areas of interest.
The Controller of Publication of The Punch Joseph Adeyeye, a graduate of Accounting once told me how he accessed free journalism courses on the websites of some Universities to make up his lack of professional training in his early years in the profession.
Follow experts and professional journalists that can enhance your career on Twitter and be their friends on Facebook and other social networking sites.
Search for fellowships and awards for journalists. Read about past winners and their work to know how to win when you apply.
ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
One way to improve your knowledge and remain relevant in the profession is to acquire additional qualifications and attend workshops, seminars and conferences.
Additional or higher qualifications can give you an advantage over your colleagues when you apply for higher positions either in your organizations or other media institutions.
Some journalists despite the hectic schedule we all complain of have acquired higher degrees in Communication studies or other professions like Law.
When they are tired of working in newsrooms, these categories of journalists can easily seek other jobs like teaching in Universities or become lawyers.
I was forced to enroll for my Masters degree in Mass Communication 20 years after my first degree when I was disqualified from a journalism teaching job in a satellite campus of a University because the minimum requirement for teaching in the institution is a Masters degree.
I got the additional qualification within a year and have since been a adjunct lecturer at the department of Mass Communication of the University of Lagos in the past four years. My target this year is to enroll for a doctorate degree in Mass Communication to qualify to be employed as a full time lecturer whenever I decide to take leave of the newsroom.
You need to act fast to get what you need to advance your career, the earlier you make the move the better.
JOIN MEDIA PROFESSIONAL GROUPS
To keep abreast of developments in the profession and take advantage of opportunities, join professional organizations (including online groups) and be active in the discussions in the forums. Most social network sites have various online groups’ journalists and other spheres of life.
Most of the opportunities I have had to travel round the world have come from my membership of various professional organizations I belong to.
It cost little or no money to belong to some of the groups, what is required is that you should know that they exist and join them.
COMMIT YOUR PLANS TO GOD
Whatever plans you have to advance your career, you need to commit it to God through prayers, trust Him and he will make it come to pass. The Bible says there is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the ends are the way of destruction.
Many are indeed the thoughts in a man’s heart; the Lord’s counsel shall prevail.
Otufodunrin , a journalist and media career development specialist is Editor, Online and Special Publication of The Nation Newspapers, Lagos and President, Journalists for Christ , Nigeria.
