The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, has urged journalists to look beyond traditional newsroom roles and turn their professional skills into sustainable economic opportunities.
John made the call as Special Guest of Honour at a Media Masterclass organised by Media for Global Change, themed “Beyond the Newsroom: Turning Journalism Skills into Marketable Assets.”
The masterclass, held as part of activities marking the 50th birthday of development communication expert, Dr. Nkoyo Umoh, yesterday brought together journalists, media practitioners and communication professionals to explore opportunities in entrepreneurship, strategic communication, content creation and other emerging fields.
The NUJ chairman commended Umoh for using her birthday to promote professional development and urged journalists to take advantage of such platforms to upgrade their skills and adapt to technological changes in the media industry.
He said journalists should not confine themselves to conventional newsroom assignments but should explore new ways of creating value from their expertise.
Delivering the keynote, Mrs Augusta Olachi, Regional Manager, Fidelity Bank of Nigeria, challenged participants to identify the skills they possess, understand the problems they can solve and package their competencies into marketable products and services.
The programme also featured a peer-learning session, “Building a Sustainable Media Business,” which examined practical approaches to developing viable media enterprises and additional income streams.
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Nkoyo Umoh said she conceived the masterclass as part of her “50 Years of Grace and Impact” celebration and as an opportunity to give back through knowledge sharing and capacity building.
She noted that journalism equips practitioners with transferable skills, including research, writing, storytelling, interviewing, communication, networking and audience engagement, which can be applied across several sectors.
“The newsroom should not be the end of the journey for a journalist. It can be the beginning of a much bigger professional journey,” Umoh said.
She stressed the importance of continuous learning, personal branding and entrepreneurship in helping media professionals remain relevant and economically empowered.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by the Press Secretary to Her Excellency and the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Benue State, among other stakeholders.
They commended the initiative and its emphasis on professional development, innovation and empowerment.
The masterclass reflects Media for Global Change's focus on using media, communication and capacity building to promote positive social change.
Comments