Next Gen Intern’s Diary: A Month of Learning at Ogene FM

Under the Next Gen/Campus Reporter Programme by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), I secured a three-month internship at Ogene FM, a radio station in Enugu-Ukwu, Anambra State. This experience was more than just an internship; it marked my first time working in a broadcast station and offered me a chance to expand beyond the print journalism I was accustomed to.

I reported on September 16, 2024, where I was onboarded by the Managing Director, Mr. Franklin. He walked me through the basics of broadcasting fundamentals, station operations, and the intricacies of news gathering, editing, and conducting interviews. He even reviewed my previous work and suggested a few stories for me to pursue.

After my initial training on sourcing news specifically for broadcast media, my first assignment was to investigate femicide in Nigeria. However, it wasn’t smooth sailing; I wasn’t introduced to the Head of Programs immediately, which meant I had to navigate the reporting guidelines at Ogene FM on my own. Honestly, switching from print to broadcast was a big adjustment.

By week two, my first broadcast stories were taking shape: one on femicide and another covering the lack of perimeter fencing at the Nwafor Orizu College of Education (NOCEN). However, reaching out to officials proved to be challenging. The Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, whom I had hoped to interview, was difficult to contact, so I pivoted and spoke to a women’s advocate instead.

While the first story is out, the second one has not been published.

Next, I tackled a story on Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) hospitals and how they handle their enrollees’ complaints. By this time, the Head of Programs had finally onboarded me, which meant I was assigned more responsibilities: pitching program ideas, scripting, and conducting vox pops. This story was challenging to complete, as many hospitals required clearance from ASHIA before they would speak with me. Even after gaining access, patients weren’t always available for interviews, and several follow-up visits didn’t yield better results.

In my final week, I worked on scripts for the “Work and Play” and “Money Mata” shows, along with drafting news scripts. I even received coaching on news reading. I had been set to join the presenter in-studio that week, but it didn’t work out as planned; she explained why and assured me I’d be able to sit in the following week.