By Tony Icheku
Even as the powers that be wrestle with the notion whether to regulate the feral spirit that is social media or not, a firm message came for Nigerian journalists in Abuja, the Nation’s capital city from the cyber space thus: ‘’ Embrace me and flourish; Or ignore me and become extinct, ‘’
That clarion call was the thrust of the talkshop on social media which held in Abuja.
Indeed, for seminar facilitator, Taiwo Obe, in his opening remarks, the session is akin to the planting of a mustard seed which at maturity would nest an army of journalists exploiting the un-utilised bounties of social media for personal and national development.
The programme, for journalists attending from Abuja and other Northern States is like another wake-up call. It definitely would rouse those who have been brooding how to tackle the barriers delaying their foray into the much talked about wonders of cyberspace .
The event titled ‘’Summit on Functional Social Networking for Nigerian Journalists: The Capital Edition’’, had as executive producer, senior journalist, and business communications expert, Taiwo Obe, Commonwealth Professional Fellow, 2014.
Obe, long done with news-gathering and deadlines, retains an unusual devotion to a quest of adding value to journalism practice in Nigeria, mentoring rookies and steering career journalist towards excellence.
Much like a digital age evangelist, Obe was accompanied by a company of like minded aficionados from Lagos. Their mission? To warn journalists in Abuja, of pitfalls ahead if they spurn the challenges arising from the explosive growth in citizen-journalism, and remain ambivalent over molding it to enhance journalism practice.
The issue was attacked from several angles via different topics by different passionate resources persons – journalists and non-journalists alike.
One of the topics which had listeners asking for more was Lekan Otufodurin’s ‘Online Editing: Tips, Tools and Take-aways’. Presented in a breezy style, the topic was technical, informative and functional.
Otufodurin, who had seen all perspectives of the profession, having climbed from a cub reporting rung to editing and now sits in management, dared journalists to go the extra mile if they desire excellence. He recalls that in 1998, though he was working in a newsroom where the only internet was in the editor-in-chief’s office, it didn’t stop him from being internet savvy.
‘’Within our limitations, there are opportunities’’ posits Otufodurin, currently the Managing Editor, Online, The Nation.
His three Ts were many comprising instructions for online journalists, and intending ones to think and write from global perspectives, to be current, accurate, to be open to variety of sources of information and to work with speed.
He enjoined the audience to: Follow people who matter in their field, and be aware of what is trending online. ‘There is simply no excuse to fail in today’s world. If you don’t have a social media handle as a journalist, it implies you have not been functionally active,’he submits.
Shina Badaru, Founder/Editor of the online specialised newspaper, Technology Times
also scored with his topic ‘Its On The Internet, So….’.
Badru, formerly IT Editor at THISDAY belongs to the generations of journalists who embraced the digital age early in this parts. A keen watcher of Information Technology, IT trends and lifestyle, he urged his listeners to acquire a ‘digital mindset’ even as he reels out figures for them to meditate on: Nigeria’s 63 million internet subscriber base; A certain breaking news from the Country that was read 16 million times via mobile phones only; A certain song composed by a Nigerian, recorded only on the internet that was downloaded 3.5 million times within three months. He enjoined his listeners to think of these figures in Naira terms, reminding them that one caller tune on a certain network costs N50/download.
‘’Digital newsgathering is war, competitive’’ where only the best wins, he remarked, stressing that the internet and mobile phones have become the primary sources for news, information and stories on lifestyle.
‘Beware of plagiarism’ counsels Badru, explaining that in plain terms plagiarism means stealing of other people’s intellectual works. Its criminal, it destroys the whole essence of freedom of expression, don’t do it, he charged.
Before Otufodurin and Badru, Pelu Awofeso set the tone for the day with an aptly titled topic ‘Social Media 101’.
Awofeso, a CNN/Multichoice African Journalists Award winner reminds his audience that the social media community currently celebrates over one billion cybernauts or voyagers, and continues growing. The social media is about building a community, bonding, sharing customer service, agitation and money-making, he submits
Social media comprises the facebook, twitter, Linked–In, email, blogging, instagram….. and more. ‘start something on the social media today, and build your personal, unique brand’ he reiterated.
Awofeso, who has had stints working the social media for government also delved into theories of censoring the social media and the limitations of such. For effectiveness, he proposes uses of several social media accounts which he said should be managed from a hub of choice.
In between, there were other speakers who sermonised in their areas of strength on the cyberspace: ‘What’s Your Apptitude?’
queries Emeka Azuka Okoye, a Software Developer, chief Executive Officer, CEO, Vikanti Nigeria Limited; Lara Wise, who found a pot of gold on facebook titled her topic: ‘Facebook Is Good For Me’
Wise is a Television anchor and author of the book: ‘Lessons of Life’
A young journalist, Abdulwasiu Hassan, gradually carving a niche as online broadcast journalist also talked about his work. He is currently deputy online editor, Media Trust, publishers of Daily Trust newspapers.
Dr Anderson Uvie-Emegbo, a social media economy specialist, multimedia content producer and thought leader who abandoned medicine for the digital world titled his lecture Social Media: 10 Questions The Travel Industry Must Answer.
After a heavy lunch, as the shadows lengthen and the mind grew sombre from absorbing so much in so short a time, the task fell on the zestful Dapo Olorunyomi to tickle the audience and lead them to an excitable finale.
Olorunyomi, Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of the fast growing online newspaper, PremiumTimes spoke of ‘Ethical Traps And How To Avoid Them’ tackled from constitutional and legalistic points of view.
He named the three big issues in journalistic ethics as revolving around factuality/truth, balance/fairness and accuracy: While the fourth and fifth – Impact/community and Transparency are the five big issues in social media.
‘’The province of ethics helps shape the boundaries of right/good and wrong/bad, and the reasoning that informs our judgement about these boundaries’’ he affirmed.
Earlier in the day, it all began on a light note, when the first speaker, journalist/columnist, Segun Adeniyi described himself as a social media alien.
‘’Am not on social media, anybody claiming to be Segun Adeniyi on facebook or twitter is a fake’’ he told his shocked audience. He rationalised his indifference to social media, but cautioned that though he is not on social media, his works are circulated there and commented on, actions beyond his control.
The event, chaired by Richard Ikiebe, Senior Fellow, School of Media Communications, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, attracted other media top guns like Malam, Garba Shehu, former President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, and now of the Atiku Media Office; Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs, Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC; Jonas Agwu, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Danlamin Nmodu, Editor-In-Chief,, Newsdiaryonline.com; Dan Akpowa, Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, Abuja Inquirer and several others
Finally, have you discovered your status on the cyberspace? You are either an alien, an immigrant, a mutant or a native.
