Media expert, Folashade Ogunrinde has recently conducted a comprehensive training session for early career journalists and student journalists, aiming to equip them with essential skills in the dynamic field of journalism.
The event, held at NECA House was a step-down of the 2023 Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC) 2023 and also organized in collaboration with the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association.
The initiative aimed to bolster the capabilities of early career journalists, fostering their growth in the journalism profession.
The training covered critical aspects of journalism, including solution journalism, fact-checking, and investigative reporting.
Ogunrinde, speaking at the event, emphasized the significance of the training in enhancing the reporting capacity of students and early-career journalists striving to advance in their careers.
“The event is all about strengthening the reporting capacity of students and early career journalists. I introduced investigative journalism to the attendees, along with sessions on fact-checking and understanding what solution journalism entails. We also delved into modern storytelling techniques. The purpose of the event is to equip student journalists and early career journalists with new approaches to reporting.
“While we have traditional beats like business, judiciary, and politics, it’s crucial for them to realize they can integrate these techniques into their reporting. For example, a political reporter can incorporate modern storytelling techniques into their coverage, and the same goes for a business reporter. It’s important for students and early-career journalists to explore these frontiers and understand the significance of fact-checking, as it enhances their daily reportage,” explained Ogunrinde.
Participants at the training expressed their appreciation for Ogunrinde’s initiative, commending her for empowering early-career journalists.
The participants also pledged to apply the knowledge gained during the training in their journalistic endeavors, highlighting the practical impact of such initiatives on the development of aspiring journalists.
Facilitators at the training were, Taiwo Adebulu, Features and Investigations Editor, TheCable; Zubaida Ibrahim, Managing Editor, The Solutions Paper; Sarah Ayeku, Reporter/Producer at TVC News; and Folasade Ogunrinde, Journalist and 2023 GIJN Fellow.
