ABEOKUTA– The Young Media Practitioners of Nigeria (YOMPON), on Thursday organised a day workshop with the theme 21st Century Journalism: How to Survive without Envelope”.
The workshop which is aimed at improving the standard of media practice, while urging young media practitioners to imbibe the spirit of hard work.
The guest speaker and multiple award winning Journalist, Adejumo Kabir while addressing participants stated that young Journalists should look beyond Instant financial gains, adding that there are various ways a Journalist can make money without compromising it’s ethical standards.
Kabir further reteraites journalists should focus more on Investigative journalism, while carving a niche for themselves, saying that there are organisation both local and foreign who are ready to support such venture.
“Brown envelope journalism is a journalistic activity which involves the transfer of various types of rewards from sources to a reporter.
“This is because journalists are poorly remunerated in Nigeria. That is why I don’t abuse policemen for collecting bribes if you don’t pay reporters’ salaries, because they’re underpaid.
“Brown envelope journalism is not something journalists can tackle alone, until the newspaper publishers and editors apply the economic model in running a newspaper.
“The problem we have as journalists is that we place premium value on material and societal value.
“Newsrooms must learn how to pay their reporters well. Any publisher without paying is doing more harm than good to the profession. I will just advise journalists to be passionate and morally upright, do journalism beyond press releases. Don’t limit yourself to specialized reporting”, he added
Speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the event, the National President of the Association, Michael Azeez-Ogunsiji and the Ogun State Chairman, Saheed Adeola said the workshop is to increase the capacity of their members as well as open their eyes to ways they can survive without compromising their journalism standards.
Ogunsiji maintained that, the workshop is part of activities to improve the knowledge base of his members in conformity with international best practices.
He added that the workshop would further improve journalists horizons on fact-checking initiatives and to downplay fake news in the society.
