By Ani Ruth, Agbani

Ikenga Media and Cultural Awareness Initiatives, IMCAI, organized a one-day mentoring workshop for mass communication students at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT.

The one-day workshop, themed “Building a Satisfying Career in Journalism,” took place on July 5, 2024, and featured sessions led by experienced journalists, Mrs. Chiamaka Okafor and Mr. Chinagorom Ugwu of Premium Times Newspaper

The workshop began with participants registering for the event, led by Ikengaonline’s Editor-in-Chief, Uche Ugboajah’s opening speech. The head of Department of Mass Communication delivered a welcome address and urged the students to make use of the workshop to increase their learning.

The Editor-in-Chief, Uche Ugboajah gave opening remarks, and a group photograph was taken, featuring all participants, including lecturers and Ikenga officials.

Mrs. Chiamaka Okafor, a journalist and Executive Director of Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue Foundation, who led the first session on “Journalism at a Glance”, defined  journalism as a profession and social responsibility.

She dismissed the idea that ‘journalism doesn’t pay the bills,’ declaring that the profession offers diverse opportunities for supplementary income. She quipped, “The sky is wide enough for us to do other things for a source of income….” She emphasized that a good journalistic piece should possess certain qualities, which she elaborated on, providing insight into the characteristics of a good news story.

 The session became more interactive as students were grouped to write news articles, with Group Three emerging as the winner. She presented the group leader with a N2000 reward, acknowledging their efforts. Then, she took the time to provide constructive feedback, pointing out areas for improvement in their news articles. Through her guidance, she enlightened and encouraged the students, helping them grow in their journalistic skills.

Mr. Chinagorom Ugwu, a journalist with Premium Times, shared his journalism experience, highlighting ethical issues and encouraging students to establish a campus journalists’ union.

He began by introducing the concept of a campus journalists’ union, which he experienced first-hand at his alma mater, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, UNIZIK. He encouraged the department to establish a similar union, complementing their existing ESUT Monitor Newspaper.

Sharing his personal journey, he recounted how his passion for journalism began even before university, earning him recognition from lecturers and peers for staying on top of trending issues. He shared stories of his determination, from contacting Vanguard newspaper to landing a post-graduation internship, which left a lasting impression on professionals in the field emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations when writing news stories.

Students shared their takeaways from the workshop and Ikenga presented certificates and cash awards to participants.

Additionally, the Head of Department presented a copy of the ESUT Monitor to the Editor-in-Chief of Ikengaonline, Uche Ugboajah, as a token of appreciation for their collaboration and support in organizing the workshop.

 In an interview with ESUT Monitor, Mrs. Chiamaka Okafor revealed that the workshop was also held at UNIZIK as part of its focus on South Eastern universities. She expressed her desire to return and see the progress of the students. When asked about the perception of journalism as a low-paying profession, she emphasized that “quality journalism speaks for itself.” On coping with insecurity, she quoted her mentor, “No story is worth your life,” highlighting the importance of security training and analysis for journalists. She shared her passion for storytelling and her desire to continue writing news stories.