What is the difference between journalists on the one hand and the broadcasters, presenters, radio and television personalities, news presenters and presenters of Talk-Show for the other?
It must be familiar with the controversy, in fact, the abusive and abusive diatribe, between Arise’s television presenter, Rufai Oseni, and the special public communications advisor and social networks for the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, in the person of Olalere (Lere) Olayka on the subject of who is a journalist and who is not, among other cons. I found another save shot from both sides a few days ago and began to ask me if there should not be so much mud that launches both men, degrade the professions that belong and ridicule the organizations/personalities for which they represent or speak. Dispossession of their channel language and the altercations that not only commit the air but also distract the attention of the critical problems of the media practice, the question of who is a journalist and who has not raised is still relevant anyway.
There are two broad angles in the controversy. The first angle is: Who is a journalist? Are they just those who went to journalism or other schools to read and obtain journalism certificates? Is there anything called work in journalism? I believe that the controversy has been resolved that both are acceptable: formal training within the four walls of a school and work training within the four walls of a media organization. The second angle of the controversy is whether news/personality presenters and broadcasters on radio, television and other media are also journalists. A few days ago, I found an online publication that tried to answer that question and I bring it here today for our reading and interrogation. Enjoy it!
Not all people in the air are journalists
Entitled “Slope is not a journalist: the confusion of Ibadan Media” and written by Olabode Makinwa, raises:
“I have seen, with deep concern, how the lines between journalism and transmission are neglected in Ibadan. As someone who has dedicated years to the practice of investigative journalism, I cannot remain silent, while many personalities in the air (OAP) are paraded as journalists simply because they have a microphone or are in a study.
“Let me say it clearly: a journalist is trained to gather, verify, analyze and inform facts. My work as a journalist begins long before speaking in a microphone. Research, interviews, (review) of documents are needed, and a constant weight of the truth against falsehood. That is what is the service to the public through the truth. An emoticatin, on the other hand, is a presenter.
He or she can read news, play music, anchor programs or entertain the listeners. The transmission is about delivery. Journalism is content. Both are important, but they are not the same.
“The problem in Ibadan today is that many presenters who specialize in jokes, jargon and the virality of social networks now call themselves ‘journalists’. They are not. I say this with all sense of responsibility: if it has not gone through the rigors of the collection of news, the verification of facts and the ethical reports, then, you are not a journalist. You are an emotification and there is the dignity in that.
“What worries me the most is the damage that causes this confusion. When the announcers misrepresent themselves as journalists, the public begins to doubt the credibility of real journalism. Sensationalism takes the place of the facts. Noise replaces the truth. And the noble profession to which I belong is dragged into the ridiculous.
“I am not against the issuers. I work with them daily and respect their trade. But they must also respect mine. A journalist unravels the story; an issuer delivered. Nor should I use the title of the other without merit.
“If Ibadan wants to retain his reputation as Nigeria Media Center, he must correct this error. The Issuers must adopt their role with pride, and those who wish to be journalists must obtain training and discipline the demands of the profession.
“I owe it to my profession, and the public that depends on it, to continue saying this: a broadcaster is not automatically a journalist. Ibadan media practitioners accept this truth, better for all of us.”
Journalism: Fight against intrusions, invasions and pollution
I thank the writer of this piece, Olabode Makinwa, for this exhibition. I thank you for your use of words and language choice. I was tempered. It was courteous, even respectful. Without being immodest and without removing anything from the personality and professionalism of my friend and brother, Lere Olayinka, and the television icon, Rufai Oseni, I congratulate Makinwa’s approach for both men. Rufai I have not known or related, but to enjoy a very cordial working relationship with the last part of the second coming of Ayo Fayose as governor of the Ekiti state.
But it is necessary for Makinwa to say that the confusion he spoke here does not only refer to Ibadan, but is virulent everywhere.
More than those who called characters in the air, the “journalists” of social networks are a worse threat to the journalism profession today. Anyone with an Android phone is a “journalist” in the Nigeria today! So also anyone who can join some prayers, correct or incorrect! Any person who can register an online platform or who will only work in the announcement, circulation, purchase or other diverse departments in a media organization present today and take pride in themselves as “journalists.” Many are the “journalists” who parade the profession today: those who did not spend enough time to properly learn the strings before graduating prematurely to afflict society with their yellow, false journalism and Jeun-Jeun (on brown).
Such elements are found in each profession, but that does not mean that we should tolerate their dire activities, protect their practice or turn a blind spot into the danger they represent not only for the profession of journalism and journalists as a whole, but to society in general. There was a time when there was a dichotomy between lawyers in academics and those of legal practice, when it was only considered that the latter were qualified for the exalted position of the main defender of Nigeria (silk, as they are called).
Now, that dichotomy has been erased and law professors are now regularly awarded the title of the main defender of Nigeria along with his scholarly friends in legal practice. I do not know if there is a similar dichotomy among journalism teachers who have never participated in the practice of journalism and their “students” who participate in practice. Such journalist coaches also qualify to be called journalists?
What is your profession?
A situation in Union Bank arose during the mandate of Gat Oboh as managing director of the group that accelerated the voluntary retirement of my friend and benefactor, Kabir Dangago, of the bank. Management came up with a new regulation that required those of other auxiliary departments, such as corporate issues (mainly manned by journalists) to also acquire banking training. Kabir kicked him. If I had wanted to be a banker, I would have touched that line from day one. His first and only love was journalism and would not diverted from him! That was what told those of us his friends that we tried to convince him to give politics a judgment. He resigned in 2005 as assistant to the general manager (corporate matters) instead of training to become a banker.
Now, can journalists in public relations departments or corporate issues of banks and other financial institutions parade as bankers? In the same way, can those who work in auxiliary departments other than the editorial department in media organizations describe themselves as journalists?
As stated above, this “confusion” is not limited only to Ibadan or journalist practice. Every time I see friends and colleagues who read history or political science as a university course at the graduate or postgraduate level they describe themselves as “historians” or “political scientists”, I wonder if we really are!
Are we an authority in the field in question? Are we practicing and we make a living in the specific field? While I studied history as a course at the undergraduate level at the then University of IFE, I do not consider myself or address myself as a “historian” because I am not an authority in that field and I do not give my life either. While I also studied political science at the University of Ibadan at the postgraduate level, it was duly certified, and I am still looking for a higher degree in that discipline, I do not see myself or tell myself as a political scientist for the same reason that I am not an authority in the field and I do not want to live. On the contrary, while I did not study journalism within the four walls of a school, but I trained at work from 1985 and I have crossed the various collection ranges and news reports, news edition, writing of characteristics, newspaper production and management at the highest level, I consider myself and address myself as a meaning, with each sense of modesty, I am an authority, and leadership of light, and leadership of light. It is also where life was gone.
Can anyone in the air so interested also become a journalist? Yes, if that person acquires training in a formal school environment or in a recognized media organization. As Makinwa said: “Those who wish to be journalists must obtain training and discipline the demands of the profession.” If you are not a journalist today, can you become tomorrow? Yeah! Simply obtain the necessary training and experience. Are all people who are not journalists in the air? Not necessarily! You can train as a journalist, but choose to be a presenter, presenter or person of personality exhibition because she has a touch or passion for it; You have the car/presence on the stage, as they call it, a good voice, beautiful face, etc.
Watch your sword!
May everyone stay in their lane! And let an end reach the altercations between Lere and Rufai! Or what do you think?
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