ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA.
A member of the Board of Directors, Daily Trust Foundation Chief Isiaq Ajibola has challenged all working journalists to brace up with modern trends in News Business as the internet has broken the walls of Journalism.
This is just as he said gone were the days where print journalists pride themselves as being great news reporters or features writers while Broadcast journalists were satisfied with being eloquent, endowed with melodious microphone voices and classy newscasters.
Chief Ajibola gave the challenge on Tuesday at a 3 day Multi media/ Investigative journalism training organised by Daily Trust Foundation with Funding by MacArthur Foundation for Journalists in the North Central Region of the country holding in Lokoja, kogi state capital.
He disclosed that Daily Trust Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust titles – print, digital and now Trust TV. Saying its history may sound recent, but the concept is inherent in this organisation since Media Trust Limited was established in 1996.
He added that the Foundation has been given scholarships to female medical students and humanitarian supports for diverse needy groups, hinting that the philosophy of the Foundation has revolved around assisting the young ones to achieve their dreams and goals in life.
According to him Media Trust Limited has attached much capital to capacity building of, not only journalists, but also those in operations and top management of the company as the newspaper is on record to be the first that would fly its middle level and management staff to exotic places like Obudu Cattle Ranch and other serene locations in Benin Republic and Ghana, to reflect on their jobs, strategise and reinvigorate their efforts in delivering good news content to the readers.
While laying kudos to the choice of Lokoja, for the training, said, the country got her name from here by the former Colonial Governor -General Lord Lugard
He maintained that the choice of Lokoja for the training against other states of the zone was not out of place for its significance as being the only states bordered by ten states and being a state where the two major rivers Niger and Benue met , with undulating and of beautiful rich grassy mountains.
Ajibo who was also a former Managing Director of Media Trust Ltd said the multimedia/investigative reporting is very relevant to the media profession, and the idea is an offshoot of the global trend in journalism.
” It is about the convergence of the media, where broadcast, radio, and print meet on the various platforms enabled by The Internet. About two decades ago, multimedia reporting was unthinkable, as print journalists took pride in being great news reporters or features writers.
“Broadcast journalists were satisfied with being eloquent and classy newscasters; while radio broadcasters thought they reached the climax of their chosen path by reporting with melodious voices from their beats.
“Today, anyone who harbours such thinking is in delusion, as the Internet has broken down the walls of Journalists over the years, built around media platforms. Most significantly, in this age of information overload, called infodemic, the written text may be seen as a waste of time and attention.
“Consumers of news are enchanted by video production, and they want it on the mobile phones, as conveniently as the Internet could make it. As creators of news content, we cannot remain in the past; we must migrate to platforms where news consumers inhabit. This is why you are here.
” We must acknowledge the role of MacArthur Foundation in making this training possible. The organisation provided the funding for this training, and the only way we can ensure that the investment is not wasted is by paying attention to the facilitators, and putting into practice what you shall learn in these three days.
“You are deepening your knowledge and digital skills at a time when the media is experiencing so much trust deficit that every news item on the social media is approached with doubt and suspicion.
“Before this dispensation, whatever was published by the media was considered as veritable and verifiable truth that the consumer of news could take to bank.
“Today, as a result of what we call ‘citizen journalism’ and digital platforms’ craze for ‘click-bait,’ the idea of ‘fake news,’ promoted by the authorities, has defaced the journalism profession” He sermonised.
While calling on the trainees to use the skills they will acquire in the next three days to reverse this perception, said the ultimate aim is for one to deliberately and responsibly use the skills to distinguish his or her media, whether legacy or emerging, in a manner that whatever is published on the platform is reliable and credible.
