The Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals (AFYMP) on February 24, 2024, built the capacity of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Campus Mirror journalists on reporting for impact “to instill the best practices in storytelling which entails purpose, news gathering, data, fact-checking, marketing and news impact measurement.”
There are no significant changes except there is a deliberate and intentional investment in such desire. Every object remains in its static form until a higher force is applied is a popular cliché. This is the rationale that drives Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals (AFYMP) which is established with a purpose to transform Africa media landscape but a constant empowerment with the right skills of the next generation and early career journalists/broadcasters across the nation and the continent.
For about a year now, the “Reporting for Impact” workshop has been organized for several next generations, early career journalists, The essence is to instill the best practices in storytelling which entails purpose, news gathering, data, fact-checking, marketing and news impact measurement. On Saturday 24th February, 2024, it was the turn of Olabisi Onabanjo University Campus Mirror newsroom which is a students’ led media organization in the school.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by the Editor-in-chief of OOU Campus Mirror, Abdullahi Salaudeen who appreciated the efforts of AFYMP and its determination to build a virile media sector across the continent. He said: “It is noteworthy to see AFYMP’s commitment to this goal over the years, we can only hope that this initiative will be supported by relevant development organizations.”
Facilitating the training session, Mr. Yinka Olaito, Executive Director of AFYMP, emphasized, among others, that journalists should not seek fame but be catalysts of good governance and society. He charged participants to be wary of spreading fake news but ensure that they do their due diligence before rushing to publish.
Mr. Olaito also encouraged the participants to be good observers of their environment, conscious of unconscious biases that may reflect in their writings, be objective and neutral as well as follow all professional ethics if they mean to be outstanding in the field.
The occasion also served as an induction ceremony for 10 new members of the association comprising five males and five females.
OOU Campus Mirror is a student media organization in the school.
