By Babatunde Ayedoju
The Chairman/Editor-in-Chief in Owena Press Limited, publisher of The Hope titles, Mr Kayode Fasua, has charged reporters on the need for consistent capacity building, saying that journalism is a dynamic profession that has evolved over time.
Fasua said this at the opening of a two-day training programme organised for organisation’s editorial staff on Tuesday.
Fasua, who commended the reporters for their professionalism and competence demonstrated over the years, added that the need for constant retraining of journalists would be a priority for his administration.
He disclosed that to facilitate this, the management would equip the library with books which would help to update the knowledge of reporters and enhance their versatility.
While pointing out that there is no shortcut to professional success in journalism, Fasua admonished the participants to be eager to learn from colleagues across board and be open to corrections, saying that he had been a beneficiary of such open-mindedness in the past.
Fasua who later delivered a lecture on news reporting, presentation and exclusivity, emphasised the need for journalists to always pursue exclusive stories, as such stories would distinguish them from other practitioners of the profession.
While warning the journalists against hoarding stories, he said, “News is new; the newness should be uppermost in your mind, and if you allow your competitors use it before you, it is no longer news.
“In writing news, you have to put yourself in the position of the readers and see what they want.
“Your story must be able to capture the mind of readers, beginning from the lead.”
Another resource person, Mr Segun Olatunji, who spoke on common errors in news/feature writing, said that English language is a major tool for journalists in this clime, adding that proficiency in the language is not negotiable.