Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Ikenga Media and Cultural Awareness Initiative, publishers of South East online newspaper on Friday mentored over 80 Students of Mass Communication of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), on Journalism practice.
The event, which was supported by MacArthur Foundation through the Wole Soyinka Center for investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), took place in the main hall of the Department of mass communication, ESUT Enugu, has the theme: “Building a Satisfying Career in Journalism.”
Speaking at the event, Editor -in-Chief of Ikengaonline, Uche Ugboajah, said the workshop became necessary as a result of declining interest in Journalism by the younger generation.
“This workshop has become very necessary because, from recent research, it has been observed that many of you studying mass communication today are reluctant to pursue a career in mainstream journalism.
“Instead the greater number seem to opt for advertising and public relations, which they consider more rewarding,” he said.
Ugboajah said that most mass communication students did not see journalism practice as rewarding
He said that the Ikengaonline newspaper had been trying to bridge the information gap and promote responsible and development journalism in the South-East region.
As an organisation, Ikenga Media and Cultural Awareness Initiative has through its flagship activity, the publication of Ikengaonline, been trying its best to bridge the information gap and promote responsible and development journalism in the South-East media ecosystem,.
“This became necessary following the apparent lack of adequate reportage, misinformation and outright disinformation on issues concerning the south-East region.
“In essence Ikengaonline, which is intentionally focused on the south-East is a bold attempt to give the people of the region a voice in the media which had been brazenly lacking in the past,” he said.
Ugboajah added that in the quest to promote good governance in the region Ikengaonline newspaper holds monthly town hall meetings every last Thursday of the month to discuss issues affecting the south-East and Nigeria in general.
“IMCAI has in the past three years helped in building the capacity of Journalists through training workshops.
“We have trained not less than 55 Journalists in Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu States,” he said.
According to him: “We are also committed to amplifying good and inspiring stories coming out of the region.”
In his remarks the Head of Department (HoD), Department of Mass Communication, ESUT, Dr Chidi Ezinwa, decried the lack of interest in Journalism by students and graduates of Mass Communication.
“It is clear to all of us even here in ESUT that students of mass communication are no longer interested in practicing journalism,” he said.
Ezinwa said that journalism is the mother of mass communication, adding that without journalism there would not be mass communication studies.
“So, it makes sense that this workshop is taking place here which is breeding ground for journalism,” he said.
One of the students, Miss Chioma Eze described the workshop as very rewarding and educative.
According to her, the workshop had reshaped her mind on the practice of Journalism.
“I feel satisfied with the workshop because I now know clearly what journalism is all about,” she said.
