Media Career development specialist, Lekan Otufodunrin reviews the job situation in the media and offers frank advice for young and experienced journalists seeking employment
I am aware that many journalists have lost their jobs due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
Even before the pandemic, the declining economy has not spared the media with many organizations unable to maintain their staff strength.
So, how will especially young graduates get media jobs in this kind of unfavourable environment when media organizations are finding it difficult to even pay those yet to be disengaged?
Notwithstanding the dire situation, media organizations still need to have a minimum number of staff to remain in business. They still need some good old hands and new staff that can help them navigate the new media landscape that requires multimedia operations.
While they are sacking some staff, they are recruiting a few new ones for new job lines. There are also new platforms requiring staff to compete with established ones.
The openings may be few, but there are definitely some hiring going on in the traditional and new media which job seekers must be tracking and paying attention to the requirements.
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What job seekers, old and young journalists need to know is that there all kinds of new skill sets required to get some of the available jobs.
Media organizations are looking for excellent, not average writers who need little or no supervision.
They want digital-savvy journalists who understand the new content generation and presentation options. They want journalists who are themselves brands they can leverage on their large followings offline and online.
They don’t want learners or old-school journalists.
I am always asked to recommend good journalists for employment, but it has not been easy finding the right fit for some of the positions.
What some job seekers have is just their certificates and not enough demonstrable evidence of their capacity to meet the requirements for some vacancies.
Some job seekers have not done an honest assessment of their skill sets based on what employers are asking for to know what they have to learn and be better positioned to compete for the few available vacancies.
An unnamed leading Nigerian newspaper this week announced that it plans to employ 25 excellent writers for beat reporting, feature writing, investigative stories and others.
It was clearly stated that the ideal candidates are preferably young with excellent writing skills with any degree so long as the candidate has EXCELLENT writing skills, is PASSIONATE about journalism and is ready for NEW CHALLENGES.
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The proposed monthly pay and allowances which the company says is for its existing entry-level staff: N170k (net), transport N20k monthly, pension, paid annual leave 28 days, 13th-month salary and funding for special investigative stories etc are very generous by industry standard.
Though this line is not included in the announcement, my advice is that “Average candidates need not apply.” Except you have what is required, don’t bother. Get ready for another opportunity and be sure you are.
More new jobs will be advertised in line with new requirements in the industry, but it will be a case of the survival of the fittest. Only the best suitable candidates based on available funds will be hired by top-rate media companies.
It’s indeed a tough time to be looking for jobs in any industry and not only the media, what is required is to have the capacity for the few available jobs.
My best wishes to job seekers.
Job seekers who want assistance with auditing of their skills and learning relevant new ones can reach me through Email: Lekanagency@yahoo.com or WhatsApp 08050498530
You can follow me on Twitter @lotufodunrin or @mediacareerngr