By Habeeb Olokooba
I think it’s time for us to make clear the fine distinction between the popular public relations, which currently pervades our journalism, and the true journalism we initially promised to hold. Perhaps there is a fundamental need to school ourselves on what journalism is and what it is not – and ought not to be. Poetry is not journalistic, News reports are. Opinion article is fair, flier reports are not too bad. While the Feature is highly encouraged, Investigations, if balanced, are completely embraced. Lastly, diaries are indifferent. Else its content falls under a well-known class.
The profession is a dangerous one. Practicing it on campus might make you jeopardize your studies, and if toxic, your results. But when you embrace it, there is no halfway to it. “If you choose silence, then be silent. When you speak, do so until you are finished. Do not silence yourself to say something. And do not speak to be silent.” — Khalil Gibran in “Do not love half lovers.”
Much of Khalil’s thoughts, as this journalism sector operates on the same concept. You don’t become a journalist to live a tranquil life or to be an inactive member. You can choose to remain silent or get up and talk. There’s no middle ground. Since time immemorial, our press boards have been actively seeking out inactive members who joined solely to join sake. I worry that this will have an impact on the upcoming professionals in this industry. Who will lead and protect them?
It’s been a while since I witnessed new NACJ reporters battle each other with features and investigations. What orientation are we giving to our reporters if publication managers don’t encounter multiple-choice problems? – Afraid of what should go up there on the board and what should not as a result of the quality of the deliverables of various reporters. Depressing.
Although celebrating people who performed excellently well is a part of journalism, that’s not all: who will become the next fearless Taoheed Adegbite, Abdurasheed Hamad, Queen Mumeenah Aziz, Abiodun Jamiu, Abdulwaheed Sofiyullah? Or did you just join this journalism so you could have your pictures posted?
How can we recruit foot troops, who will be our heroes, and who are not scared to ask for their rights from the authorities? UDUS NACJ birthed five vibrant children, allowing the community to not only be aware of what is going on but also to gain a better understanding of how it is happening. However, that was yesterday. The bright light that illuminates the university community is on a fast-paced mission to become a shadow of itself.
I’m terrified of the ominous storm that looms above the UDUS School of Journalism. Beyond this “UDUS to begin admission” journalism, how do we prepare the next generation to become our proud history, if the present isn’t the best? It thus behooves one with the question: Is the golden generation of the UDUS School of Journalism over? What will happen tomorrow, when all of these major personalities we currently have leave campus?
To our Editors and Press board’s stakeholders, tomorrow will come. Definitely. The question is how do we prepare for it? Let’s hold more training on feature writing and pass down the knowledge to the future of NACJ. Let’s train them more on how to become a better version of themselves by showing them the true purpose of campus journalism.
Don’t let it look like you are just gathering a crowd all night so they can fill those empty seats. The kismet of this great empire now rests on you. The weight of the tomorrow of NACJ UDUS is now in your palms. And you all have two choices, you either guard it till you pass the baton or crush it. In both choices Editor! You have made a name. History will tell.