Friday morning, I was discussing with my boss, Mr Lekan Otufodurin, Executive Director of Media Career Development Network on the issue of re-defining Journalism for Nigerian students and I realized there are so many opportunities for budding journalists in the fast-changing market of content creation and communication.
I believe the focus of the university curriculum should begin to take a new outlook. While there is a need to teach fundamentals of traditional reporting practice, the world has moved and focus should be streamlined to give more credence to emerging trends in the media market, digital marketing communication, freelancing, videography and the like.
As a student of mass communication, I notice an apparent lack of direction in most of my colleagues on the next line of action on finishing school. How do we convert what has been taught in class and favourably compete in the market?
Mr Otufodunrin spoke about the importance of modelling as a tool for inspiring new Journalists coming into the Market. Beyond occasional meetings and seminars organised by student unions and the department, there should be real counselling on career development and action plans to succeed in entering the market.
The majority of the media practitioners we have today didn’t even study mass communication. Many developed interest, made research after observing how top media professionals do it and they started implementing, even without the proper training.
There is a need to redefine the curriculum and look into new ways to prepare our students to make it in their field. The last thing we want is to have people from other fields take over our industry and have no knowledge of media laws, ethics and some important training peculiar to Journalism.
The same afternoon, we visited the Department of Mass Communication, Dominion University and the Head of the Department, Dr Kunle Afolabi was glad to receive us.
He spoke on the beauty of the mass communication profession and the successes of several professionals who have etched their names in the sand of time. Funny how most of them didn’t study mass communication.
He stressed the importance of exploiting the available technological resources for young Journalists. Mr Otufodunrin spoke about the edge journalism students have over others if they are armed with the full training package, the laws, codes and ethics.
I personally think Career Building and Employability should be included in the university curriculum. Let’s have veterans speak to youngsters on how to survive in the industry, let’s have more mentorship, career modelling and guidance.
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