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Navigating Campus Journalism: Insights from Campus Reporter’s 2024 Generations in Conversation

Campus Reporter’s 2024 Generations in Conversation series was held on Thursday, 16 May 2024. Themed “From Campus to Career: Navigating Campus Journalism for Professional Success”, the speakers were Kabir Adejumo, Head of Southern Operations at HumAngle; Ijeoma Okereke-Adagba, the Project Manager of UDEME; and Ibrahim Adeyemi, Deputy Investigations Lead at HumAngle. 

The Campus Reporter project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is a learning platform for campus journalists, built on the principles of evidence-based ethical reporting and youth engagement initiatives from campuses around West Africa. 

The conversation was held to address current issues bedevilling campus journalism like harassment from school management and other stakeholders and issues of story funding. The conversation also revolved around how campus journalists can navigate the media space and scale up to become media professionals. 

To elevate the standards of campus journalism and prepare the campus journalists for successful careers in journalism, Mr Adeyemi urged them to prioritise accuracy, integrity and ethical reporting. He emphasised accuracy and integrity as bedrocks of journalism, urging students to verify information from multiple sources to maintain credibility and public trust. 

Mr Adeyemi enjoined the participants to “verify information from multiple sources before publishing, to maintain credibility and uphold the public trust”. 

Mr Adejumo highlighted the importance of leveraging digital tools and media literacy to enhance journalistic practices. He encouraged students to engage actively in campus journalism to build a foundation for professional success, despite challenges such as skepticism from peers and family.

“Take advantage of the opportunity available and start somewhere but have a focus”, Mr Adejumo said while encouraging the participants to take advantage of the digital age by developing their media literacy skills and leveraging digital technologies to advance their reportage.

He further explained that one of the reasons why campus journalism is not as effective as it used to be is the loss of interest among students. He, however, pointed out that there are a lot of opportunities open to them if they pursue the field. He also called on former campus journalists who currently work in the mainstream media to encourage campus journalists.

Ms Okereke-Adagba shared her experiences, emphasising that journalism has enriched her life and contributed to her success in her role as the Project Manager of UDEME. 

“I have faced many challenges in my career, but each one has only made me more determined to succeed. Journalism has taught me the importance of perseverance, integrity, and the value of truth,” Ms Okereke-Adagba noted.

Speaking to female campus journalists, she noted that they might face more challenges than their male counterparts because of their gender and how the community believes that journalism is not for women. However, she advised them to build their skills and confidence to navigate the media industry effectively.

“Equipping yourself with the right skills brings about more credibility for you as a female reporter, and after graduation, it is more challenging for a female journalist who does not have enough skills in the profession. So, it adds value for you to be confident and bold enough to stand for what you want, not taking to mind stereotypes about women in media”, Ms Okereke-Adagba said. 

The speakers shared their experiences as campus journalists and how they were consistently inspired by the transformation their reports birthed. Mr Adeyemi, who wanted to become a teacher after graduation chose to become due to the transformative power of journalism and because many people shy away from the dangerous task of accountability. He urged campus journalists to pursue stories that push for change and to be humble. 

As the conversation ended, Iretomiwa Dele-Yusuff, Campus Reporter’s Project Officer, emphasised CJID’s commitment to mentoring and providing guidance to willing campus journalists.

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1 Comment

  1. Rosemary

    It was an interesting session and I learnt a lot from it. Thank You CJID for this opportunity ????????

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