There is prosperity in media work, Obe assures young journalists

By Dayo Emmanuel

“Don’t be afraid, there is prosperity in this business, but you have to know what to do next and be intentional.”

These were the encouraging words of accomplished media trainer, Taiwo Obe for upcoming and other journalists at the webinar marking his 60th birthday last Thursday.

The founder of The Journalism Clinic and member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors is a notable media trainer who has organised various training programmes for media professionals in the country.

Speaking at the webinar, Obe enjoined young participants to know as much as possible about whatever beat they are covering.

“Journalism should no longer be knowing a little about everything, but knowing everything about something or a particular beat,” he said, adding that, “You must be inquisitive because if you are not, you are not in this business.”

In his presentation titled: The 60 exciting and rewarding jobs, he said, “There are as many as 200 exciting jobs but I am sharing 60 because I am 60.”

To create these jobs, Obe said young journalists must be able to think, stating that “What has been working for me is my thinking. All I do is that I think on my feet.”

“If you are not able to think you cannot succeed. Thinking is your number one tool. Inquiring about things and being able to think is very important. You must not only be curious, but you must also be able to think,” he stated.

Obe noted that competition for jobs in the industry has become stiffer because of many non-professionals who are exploring opportunities offered by the media.

“You are competing with everyone who has a smartphone and internet access. That young guy with a smartphone is your competitor. He doesn’t care about ethics. What your training has given you the advantage of is that you know the difference, you know the ethics and rules of the profession which he doesn’t know,” Obe said.

He urged journalists to embrace professionalism, and be intentional to think through every process.

“Be intentional about being grounded in a subject to the point of mastery. Make a job of your passion or interest. From your first day in journalism, you must have an interest, you must have an area you want to master,” he admonished.

With no more jobs as before for young journalists, Obe said journalists must master their passion to remain relevant in the industry.

“Are you a master of one thing that people need to connect? There are no jobs like they used to be, but people want to hear stories, especially stories about things they are interested in, so make a job of your passion or interest.

“Don’t just be watching African Magic films, make a job of being a critic or reviewer,” he advised.

In his response, one of the participants, Demola Sanyaolu was worried about how journalists can monetise what they do.

According to him, he spends money made from other endeavours to create contents which people find difficult to pay for.

READ ALSO: 60 Jobs for journalists: Become masters of a niche- Obe

“The problem we have is how to monetise these things we do. There are so many quacks these days that people prefer to professionals,” Sanyaolu said.

Former Assistant Director of Programmes, Lagos Operations of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Mrs Funke Treasure Durodola commended Obe for investing in the career journalists and other media professionals over the years through his various training programmes.

Durodola also expressed concern about the ability of independent journalists to monetise their content.

“It is easy to do YouTube interviews and a lot of things, but when it comes to the Naira and Kobo of it, a lot of Nigerians don’t know how to pay. A lot of us spend money from somewhere else and we don’t get the money back,” she lamented.

Obe, however, encouraged participants not to give up but continue to perfect their skills and promised to organise another session on monetisation.