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| KAYOJA |
The influx of untrained practitioners into media industry in contemporary Nigeria has continued to raise concerns about the future of journalism hence the need for concerted effort towards upholding professionalism.
In this regard, the Media for Development Initiative in collaboration with Kaduna Young Journalist Association organized a one-day Capacity Building Workshop on Developmental Journalism for Societal Development for selected practitioners in the state.
The advent of social media has affected the contemporary practice of journalism accommodating both trained and untrained practitioners into the art of gathering and disseminating information.
This brings to the fore the need to intensify efforts towards building the capacity of journalists on the rudiments of the profession as well as its ethics and etiquettes.
Speaking during the engagement session with the fifty selected media practitioners, the convener of the workshop, Malam Ahmad Maiyaki stressed that journalists are vested with the social responsibility of improving people's quality of life.
“As you go into the job, you go into the job with passion because the only thing that can keep you successful in journalism is the passion in you that drives you to do stories that will add value to the society” He added.
In his address, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs Kaduna, Mr. Samuel Aruwan stressed the need for journalists to learn the skills of reporting sensitive security issues in the sense that it serves the interest of the ordinary people.
Mr. Aruwan urged journalists to always work with the intent of ensuring the common good of the society by facilitating the attainment of peaceful communities.
He said: “And I want to challenge you about peace. For the sake of peace, for the sake of stability, you should do all that you can. Our profession is a noble profession”.
In a remark, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Asmau Yawo Halilu said young journalists are the future of Nigeria's development urging them to contribute their quota towards achieving a more prosperous nation.
“I want to urge all of us to ensure that we work according to our rules of engagement, in line with the ethics of the job so that when we grow in the job, people will know us for the good conduct of the profession” She appealed.
A resource person in the workshop, Dr. Jamila Dahiru stressed that the relevance of developmental journalism to national programs is enormous hence the need for practitioners to be fully conscious of their responsibilities.
Dr. Jamila Dahiru said: “we need people that will speak stories that concerns us that affects us, not just news that wants to know what is happening but then how is that affecting you, how is that affecting the society”.