EDITORIAL: In collaboration with the Punch Media Foundation, The Punch Newspaper recently had a ten-day immersion training programme for its new editorial staff.
The programme which is the second edition according to the Foundation is meant to enhance the skills and expertise of the journalists, equipping them with the tools and knowledge needed to excel in their roles as watchdogs in the media industry.
It is also aimed to build the capacity of The Punch journalists, positioning them as change agents and effective watchdogs in the media space through impactful storytelling.
At the end of the training, the participants are expected to cultivate a strong commitment to ethical and accountable Journalism.
Experienced facilitators including current and former senior staff of the company and other top journalists shared insights and their experiences on various media skills including news writing, investigative, business, metro, political, data and online reporting.
The Immersion programme is commendable considering that most media organizations in the country don’t provide orientation and necessary training for new and old staff.
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New hires in many media houses usually don’t have the opportunity of knowing enough of the history, culture and principles and overall operations of their new workplace covered during the training by the foundation.
Due to lack of necessary orientation and training many new staff are either unable to live up to expectations or abide by other conditions of service, resulting in early resignation or sack.
The Punch Immersion programme is a good model for media organizations not presently offering similar opportunities for their new staff to enhance their skills if they want to retain them as long as possible.
Regular staff training for new and old staff is necessary to enhance their capacity, ensure maximum productivity and retain their commitment.
It is also necessary for media organizations to provide an enabling work environment and policies necessary for their staff to utilize the skills learnt during training.
We urge staff who are trained by their organizations to justify the investment in them in accordance with the terms and conditions of their employment.