In this article, I run the risk of indulging in self-praise. I plead in advance that it is deliberate for a good purpose. My approach to writing on media career development issues is to cite personal examples of what I have been privileged to experience and what has worked for me.
I usually want to cite examples of time-tested approaches that are realistic and can be improved on.
Last Friday, I was elected Secretary of the Africa Region of the World Association for Christian Communication, Canada (www.waccglobal.org ) at the regional General Assembly of the organization held in Nairobi. Although an official assignment in office prevented me from attending the meeting, I narrowly won the election for the post.
Wale Adedayo, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Uhuru Times introduced me to WACC in Cardiff in 1998 while I was attending the three months Advanced Journalism course at Thomson Foundation. Wale, then of The Guardian who was pursuing a Masters degree in the Communication School of the Cardiff University felt I should become a member of WACC especially because of the Journalists for Christ Fellowship I was coordinating.
Since joining WACC, the organization has enhanced my media career through participation in various training programmes, access to communication resources, networking opportunities with communication specialists and travel round Africa.
WACC is one of the other global organizations I belonged to and have benefitted from professionally. I am a member of the Board of Trustees of Media Associates International (MAI) for Africa, an International Christian print media publishing ministry (www.littworld.org) . Participating in the LittWorld publishing conference, three of which I have attended in London and Nairobi and served as resource person has boosted my Christian media ministry work in various ways.
I have just been given the opportunity to be the Editor of the African Authors Journey project due for publication next year.
In 1998 I linked up with the International fellowship of Christian Journalists known as GEGRAPHA.(www.gegrapha.com ) Through this group, I have met accomplished journalists at conferences in London, Washington and Nairobi who have continued to help me in one way or the other to remain a committed journalist and faithful Christian.
I fulfilled my dream of attending a programme at Poynter Institute, Florida (www.poynter.org ) the leading global school for journalists through a Leadership and Mentoring programme by The Media Project (www.themediaproject.org ) headed by Dr Arne Fjeldstad who is GEGRAPHA’s Chairman.
Subscribing to the website of the International Journalism Network www.ijnet.orghas provided me weekly information about global journalism opportunities and training.
There are many other local and international media groups journalists can join or link up with to enhance their career, especially now when all you need to do is to check their websites for necessary information.
I know other Nigerian journalists who are making the best of their links with global media organizations at little or no cost.
I challenge you to maximize the networking opportunities available in the present global village and practice what I call ‘JOURNALISM WITHOUT BORDERS’.
I will be willing to help in any way I can.
Please share with me and other readers’ local and international media networks you belong to and what you have benefited from your membership.
NB: I appreciate all who have been reading, sharing, liking and responding to the previous editions of this dairy.
Thanks for your feedbacks and let me get more to enrich this series.
Photo: At WACC global congress in South Africa 2009
Lekan Otufodunrin
Email: info@mediacareerng.org /Telephone: 08023000621 /Twitter: @lotufodunrin /Skype: lekanskype
