By Peace Oladipo
The Campus Reporter project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) launched the first Generations in Conversation series on Friday, 14 February 2023.
The conversation series, titled “The Future of Journalism: Emerging Skills and Enduring Values”, focused on exploring the new trends in journalism, discussing the traditional values that still apply, and sharing insights into the skills required to thrive in the profession.
The webinar began at 6 p.m. and was attended by students from various institutions in West and East Africa.
CJID’s Deputy Director, Busola Ajibola, welcomed the participants and explained that the session is vital to help campus journalists realise that there are essential values to uphold despite the new trends in journalism.
The Campus Reporter Project Officer, Iretomiwa Dele-Yusuff, briefly introduced the two speakers, Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times and CEO of CJID, and Ruona Meyer, Manager of the Africa Initiative project at the Solutions Journalism Network.
As the event progressed, the speakers answered questions on the new trends in journalism, important skills to thrive in the profession and ways by which campus journalists can utilise the available resources to make impacts as students.
Ms Meyer urged the campus journalists to acquire multimedia journalism skills by saying, “Learn how to shoot with at least your phone and be able to do audio editing.” According to her, her undergraduate degree was in Microbiology, and that did not stop her from pursuing a career in journalism.
She also recommended that students learn the basics of data and artificial intelligence journalism.
Mr Olorunyomi emphasised the definition of journalism and media, stating that “journalism is very specific and part of a wider ecosystem. Everything we call journalism is media, but not everything we call media is journalism.”
He then went on to speak about the purpose of journalism as a tool to change and improve society. He also encouraged the campus journalists to imbibe the necessary ethics of verification, fact-checking, lack of bias, upholding the truth and balance. According to him, despite the new trends in journalism, these ethics must be the foundation of every journalist.
The webinar ended as CJID’s Programme Director, Akintunde Babatunde, thanked the speakers for the rich conversation and encouraged the participants to look out for CJID updates and harness the opportunities that will come their way for growth.
