Expand your networks, expert urges journalists
A media expert, Mr Wale Fatade, has advised Nigerian journalists to continually expand their networks in order to accelerate their careers.
Fatade spoke on “Maximising Media Career Opportunities in 2022’’ at the Journalists For Christ (JFC) monthly meeting in Lagos on Sunday.According to him, media professionals can only be as big as their networks.
Fatade is Commissioning Editor with The Conversation Africa, an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community, delivered direct to the public.
“One thing that will help all of us to be better media people is to expand our networks.“The Bible says a man that has friends must show himself friendly.“So, when you go for conferences and meetings, always network and also exchange call cards.
“Most of the jobs that will be very big and will turn our lives around are not advertised.“Most well-paying jobs are not advertised, so, if you are praying, help your prayers by networking,’’ Fatade said.The media expert stressed the importance of updating oneself continually, saying that you have no business informing others when you are not informing yourself.
He said that reading must be given pride of place in the life of a media professional in order to access new opportunities.Fatade urged media professionals to dedicate a certain part of their income to upgrading themselves.“Update your knowledge. Do it regularly and continuously,’’ Fatade said.
He admonished professionals to be open to learning new things, adding that they should not be ashamed to learn from younger people.“There is nothing you cannot know. Expand your horizon; be willing to learn new things, trends, opportunities and new ideas.“Don’t be arrogant.
A typical Nigerian journalist is arrogant and thinks there is nothing else to learn.“Be productive on the Internet, be prayerful, and don’t procrastinate,’’ Fatade said.The media expert noted that to maximise opportunities, one must, of necessity, position oneself.He said: “ You pray, work very hard and position yourself. Do all three.“After you have done all, ask God to help you.
The opportunities are there bountifully.’’Fatade added that the media professionals should not mind doing things for free sometimes.In his remark, Founder of JFC, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, defined maximising as making the best of opportunities.He urged media professionals to not only pray for breakthroughs, but to also prepare for breakthroughs. (NAN)
