VETERAN JOURNALISTS MAKE CASE FOR REGULAR TRAINING FOR MEDIA PRACTITIONERS
Veteran Journalists have called for regular training and retraining of media practitioners,as a way to add value to the profession across the globe.
This call was made on Wednesday during a discussion on a social media platform,known as penpushing by participants, while contributing to the topic ‘what is breaking news’, in journalism.
The contributors which comprises; Publishers,journalism teachers, Manager News and academic researchers among others were of the view that such training could be organised by penpushing platform in conjuction with media houses or Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ,as the case maybe.
In his contribution, an academic researcher in journalism, Sulaiman Osho posited that, the platform need to start regular seminars for journalists perhaps from next year.
The United States based Nigerian journalist,insisted that such seminars would further educate practising journalists.
‘It may be done in conjunction with NUJ or the media houses as the case maybe or the platform may forge ahead with it. Regular training is needed’,Osho emphasised.
While speaking on the topic, ‘what is breaking news, he also stated that,breaking news is fresh news,adding that, it has deeper meaning in journalism practice.
‘It’s Red Alert on a monumental
news outbreak. For instance the death of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, Sardauna, or now sudden death of MKO Abiola in government captivity, sudden death of General Sani Abacha, President Umaru Yar’Adua.These are basic examples of where you can use Breaking News’,he said.
‘Also the news of monumental plane crashes in Nigeria. …kidnap of about 300 Chibok school girls…Flood disasters…etc etc’,the versatile journalist said.
‘Monumental news concerning big personalities, air crashes, flood and fire disasters, kidnap of 300 Chibok school girls and among others that can make electronic media to interrupt regular programs to announce a news break…if it’s news, it must be new, fresh and immediate. But if it’s News Break, it must inatant and monumental’,he added.
Another senior journalist, Gbenga Onayiga, in his own contribution said,the idea of regular training for the practitioners was a good thinking
‘It will help practising and non practising journalists as well as other professionals on this great platform’,he emphasised.
Onayiga, a retired Deputy Director Network News Directorate and Head, Network Editorial Unit of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria,FRCN, while also speaking on the term “Breaking News” said,it has become a cliche and thoroughly misused in recent times,stating that, veterans of the profession owe it a duty to call some colleagues and some “citizen journalists” to order.
‘As practised in my days in the newsroom, we should suggest synonyms to the younger ones and place a temporary embargo on “Breaking News”,he declared
The publisher of GatewayMail, a Canada based online newspapers, Femi Shodunke was also of the view that, there must be platform for regular academic exercise for journalists, and gave kudos to penpushing for paving way for the take off.
Shodunke, on his take,on what news break is said, no doubt, at times, it’s stereotypical perception of individuals to judge what is “breaking news.”
‘While it could be seen being abused in some quarters, but at same time it’s not so, depending on various socio-eco-poli-cultural cum psychological factors which must be taken into cognizance’,he said.
‘If some us go back to our Mass Communication books (not those who entered journalism profession by default without basic training) one will realise that one of the definitions of news is: a piece information that is reported through the medium (media) of communication, at a particular point in time’,he added .
What is news to you may not really be “news” to me by virtue of myriad of vantage positions in terms of knowledge based variables and proximity to timeliness’,Shodunke posited.
He emphasised that,”breaking news” is subject to series of analyses, which can be defended to a larger extent during debate.
Another participant and former Editor with Thisday Newspapers, Yusuph Olaniyonu,also corroborated the idea of constant training and retraining for journalists,particularly the new generation who are more conversant with new technology.
He also spoke on the isuue raised on the platform,which focused on ‘what is breaking news’,stating that, it is news that still remain fresh and full dimension not yet out.
‘ There is no need for this long turenchi on what “breaking news” is. It is simply a story that is just happening at the moment the reports is being dished out. In fact the story is still very fresh and the full dimension is not yet fully unfolded’,Olaniyonu said.
‘Broadcast and online media used the phrase ‘Breaking News’ to quickly announce the gist of an event whioe still expecting the full details’,the senior journalist stated.
Similarly, Gbenga Gbesan,a renowned media practitioner expressed his confidence and conviction on the retraining and seminars for newsmen.
He spoke on what constitutes breaking news,stressing that one word that captures it all is immediacy,and added further that,the occurrence, event or incident must be “hot and smoking.”
‘And it must have news value. And here we see the power of the electronic media before the advent of the social media’,Gbesan stated.
He said,the broadcast media invents the term in order not to offend the sensibility of its viewers or listeners nor the interruption of the programme that is being broadcast.
‘Accordingly, rare it is for an evening newspaper to come out screaming BREAKING NEWS! Nothing is breaking with a report that lacks immediacy. Complete aberration it is to find the front page of a daily shouting BREAKING NEWS because it is trite that the print reports in the past tense’.
‘But with social media, news can truly be breaking. The issue here is news worthiness of the event being reported. I am afraid that there is a lot about journalism that the social media has redefined for the worse’,he explained.
