As I continue to read the Facebook posts of a female journalist currently attending an international media exchange programme, I can tell she is having one of her very fulfilling professional and life experiences.
Her posts speak volumes of the joy of the opportunity being a journalist has afforded her to be invited for the programme and be able to not only share her experience and learn from others but the unforgettable experience of the places she is visiting and the amazing people she is interacting with.
Getting this kind of very impactful mutual learning experience and others before this programme didn’t come easy, but the good thing is that her not-too-pleasant experiences in the profession, which many other colleagues also endure, have not been in vain.
If you are going through harrowing times in journalism, like not getting paid your worth or not at all, not getting the kind of job you want, enduring unpleasant conditions of service and others, you are not alone.
It’s hard being a journalist, especially in our part of the world, but you can’t give up making the profession worth your while and rewarding in various ways considering the important role of journalists in society.
How can you make journalism work for you instead of bemoaning your fate?
*Get the necessary training and certifications. Know the qualifications employers want and have them to apply for your dream media jobs. While some employers don’t care about having higher educational qualifications, some do and it may give you an advantage for some competitive positions.
*Have updated requisite skills needed in the industry. So much is changing in how journalism is practised that anyone who wants to be reckoned with in the profession has to learn new skills and how to utilize new tools for modern-day journalism.
It’s no longer enough to just be able to write, you must be digitally savvy and be able to present content in a multi-media format. You must master engagement skills and give your work as much visibility as possible to those who should know the stuff you are made of.
*To maximize as many opportunities as possible, you must belong to various local and international networks and be active by making valuable contributions online and offline.
*You must be willing to apply for awards, training and conferences to get the deserved recognition and opportunities to learn. You must not be discouraged if you don’t win awards or don’t get invited to programmes. Keep trying and be sure you are doing your best and it will eventually pay off someday. You must be daring in seeking opportunities which you can get even if you don’t have all that is required.
One last point. Dream big about what you can accomplish as a journalist despite the inability of others you know to excel or be fulfilled in the profession.
Don’t be limited by the limitations of the media organization you work for or the economic situation in the country.
Stop thinking like a local journalist, be global in your perspective about what you can become in the profession.
*I’m available for more insights, counselling and mentoring on how to be the journalist you ought to be.
Lekan Otufodunrin
Media Career Development Network
Email: lekanagency@yahoo.com
Whatsapp: +2348050498530
Twitter: @lotufodunrin
Website: www.mediacareerng.org
