By Joshua Onyekwelu
The Ikenga Media and Cultural awareness initiative in collaboration with Nnamdi Azikiwe University has ended her one day workshop with the theme “Building a satisfying career in Journalism”
The event which was held at the Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna Legacy Building Hall, Nnamdi Azikiwe University was designed to mentor the mass communication Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the Paul’s University Awka on the tenets and ethics of the pen profession.
Enlightening the students, one of the resource persons Ms. Chiamaka okafor informed the students that you have to love what you do before you do what you love to do while insisting that Journalism is not like every other profession where everyone jumps into rather one has to exhibit tenacity, creativity, good writing skills and prowess in order to be a good journalist.
Speaking further, she brought to light that Journalism is simply one of the constitutionally recognized Profession that primarily seeks for the public role and interest and if it’s not for the public and society interest then it’s not Journalism.
According to Mrs Okafor, part of a Journalists responsibility includes reporting government activities as well as officials who are appointed and accountable for any misconduct.
On his part Mr. Uzor Maxim Uzoatu the Second speaker of the event described journalism as the bloodline of democracy adding that without the journalists factual information dissemination will be hindered.
He also tutored the students on the Ethics of Journalism and how to apply it without fear or favour. He mentioned factors such as biased reporting, brown envelope, deadline infringement, poor editorial judgement among others as qualities that are against the ethics of the journalism profession.
Mr Uzor further charged the students to embrace worthy aspects of the profession considering that as mass communication students they will be groomed in the right path to excellence.
Meanwhile, the event took a new turn as the platform for questions and answers saw more enlightenment to the students.
The highlight of the event includes the engaging questions and answers segment,
The event was graced with the presence of the Head of Department Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Dr. Chioma Agbasimelo, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Paul’s University, Prof. Stella Okunna, the head department of mass communication at Paul’s university Awka, Prof Chinwe Uzochukwu, as well as UNIZiK Mass Comm lecturer Dr. Henry Duru, and Mr. Uche Ugboajah the Editor-In-Chief Ikengaonline.
