As the second month of my internship with Crisp Nigeria under the platform of the Next Gen Internship programme of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) draws to a close, I reflect on a month filled with significant learning experiences and professional growth. Throughout the month, I engaged in various activities that enhanced my understanding of journalism and storytelling.
Activities Engaged in and Completed:
The month began with valuable training from my supervisor, Mr. James Ojo, on how to draw a story angle and effectively build narratives. This training helped me to continue working on a story about out-of-school children in Nigeria–SHATTERED DREAMS: How Hardship Worsens Nigeria’s School Dropout Rate. For this story, I interviewed an academic adviser and some parents to gather insights into the challenges faced by these children amid economic hardships.
In the second week, I delved deeper into research and began the actual writing of the report. My supervisor guided me to maintain a coherent flow of thought throughout the writing and this specifically helped me as I rewrote the story based on the feedback I received. The process of rewriting was initially disappointing. However, it eventually resulted in an opportunity for growth.
As the month progressed, I embarked on new stories, including one focused on Nigerian politicians involved in public assault cases and another addressing women’s representation under President Tinubu’s administration. In the second story, I highlighted the discrepancy between campaign promises of 35% female representation in the cabinet and the actual percentage of women the president appointed on assumption of office, and after the cabinet was reshuffled on Oct 23, 2024–the latter percentage was significantly lower.
I also wrote about the implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage across Nigerian states. The story highlights the states that have implemented the new wage, those who are in the process of implementation, and those who have not yet taken action. It also mentioned the federal government’s commencement of payments and the Nigeria Labour Congress’s (NLC) threats to embark on a strike by December in non-compliant states.
In the third week, I wrote about the 2024 US presidential election results, focusing on women who lost their presidential bids. This story examined the broader implications of these losses for women’s representation in politics globally.
Lessons Gained
This month was particularly enlightening as I learned the importance of clear and concise writing. My supervisor emphasised the significance of adhering to grammatical structures that enhance readability. I am also excited to have gained insights into investigative techniques that prioritise the need for health and safety while reporting. This indeed was an extension of what I learnt as a participant in the 2024 Empower Women in Media Cohort (EWMC), a CJID initiative dedicated to raising more competent female journalists in the media ecosystem.
In this second month of my internship, I also learnt how hyperlinking improves navigation within articles and provides readers with direct access to sources. According to my supervisor, hyperlinks are essential to maintaining journalistic integrity. The importance of thorough research was further reinforced as I navigated various published works to support my stories.
Challenges Faced; Opportunities for Growth
One of the primary challenges that I encountered was sourcing reliable data for my stories, particularly regarding out-of-school children. It was often difficult to find credible statistics that accurately represented the issue at hand. Additionally, drafting interview questions posed a challenge initially but previous training helped me overcome this hurdle. Another challenge was rewriting stories as I struggled with the disappointment over revising my work.
Resolutions: These challenges made me adopt more strategic approaches like using specific keywords during Google searches to find reputable sources like ILO, UNICEF and WHO reports.
In terms of rewriting my stories, it was initially disappointing, but I resolved to view the feedback as growth opportunities rather than as setbacks. By embracing constructive criticism from my supervisor and my colleagues, I improved my writing significantly.
From October through November, my internship was indeed a moment of substantial learning and development in my journalistic career. I am mostly grateful to CJID and Crisp Nigeria because the skills acquired and the experiences gained so far will undoubtedly contribute to my future work in storytelling and reporting.
End note: Ndidiamaka Ede is a participant in the Next Gen/Campus Reporter 2024 Internship Programme. To read about her experiences during the first month of the internship, click here
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