Ejimnkeonye Onyido
@ejimnkeonyeonyido450742
1 year ago
MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING A JOURNALIST:
Inspirations, Challenges, Opportunities and Dreams
I still remember the day I read 'The Pen is Still Mightier' by Kunle Ajibade.
A journalist's message to his colleagues that truth will always prevail, and that the energy they put into the struggle should constantly be renewed. His words that journalists are in constant touch with the aspiration of the people and that the people will always win, were so true and impacting.
I was barely ten years old, but I felt a surge of curiosity and excitement to know that journalists often face threats and obstacles from various sources that try to influence or control their reporting. These can include governments, corporations, criminal groups, or militias. Journalists may be subjected to legal restrictions, surveillance, propaganda, bribery, violence, or imprisonment. These did not deter or scare me. I wanted to know more about the world and how it works.
That was the day I decided to become a journalist.
What does it take to be a journalist in Nigeria?
How do you overcome the challenges of censorship, corruption, and violence?
How do you find your voice and your niche in a competitive and diverse media landscape?
These are some of the questions that drive me through my journalism journey.
One of the biggest challenges I've faced in my journey of becoming a journalist is finding reliable sources and verifying information. In Nigeria, there is a lot of misinformation and propaganda spread by various actors, such as politicians, religious leaders, or armed groups. To avoid falling for fake news or biased reporting, I had to learn how to do thorough research, check multiple sources, and cross-reference data. I also had to learn how to protect myself and my sources from threats and intimidation.
One of the most rewarding aspects of journalism is being able to tell stories that matter and make a difference. As an intending journalist, I hope to have the opportunity to cover important issues and events that affect the lives of millions of Nigerians, such as elections, human rights, health, education, or culture. I also hope to have the chance to interview inspiring people who have overcome adversity and achieved their goals. Through my stories, I hope to inform, educate, and empower my audience.
My journalism journey, hopefully, would be full of challenges and opportunities. I shall learn a lot about myself and the world around me. I have also discovered my passion for photojournalism, where I want to focus my career. The emergence of new media formats and channels has offered journalists more opportunities to tell stories and reach audiences. I want to take pictures of events, people, places, or issues that are relevant to the news. I believe that photos are crucial for the credibility of journalism and make it easier for people to believe the stories they tell. By writing accompanying articles on stories from the pictures of events edited and captioned, I hope to contribute to society by providing the public with accurate, reliable, and relevant information about various topics and issues that affect their lives.
Journalism is more than just a profession for me. It is a way of life. It is a way of expressing myself and connecting with others. It is a way of making a positive impact on the world. I am proud to be a journalist and I look forward to continuing my journey.
#Learning
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