By Paul Williams
Media-focused non-governmental organisation, Step-Up for Women in Journalism Initiative (SWIJ), in partnership with Common Ground Journalism Forum (SFCG) and the European Union (EU), has embarked on training of female journalists in Rivers State on career advancement strategies and digital skills.
The training, which took place in Port Harcourt on Thursday and Friday, with the theme, ‘Career Advancement Amid Evolving Dynamics,’ also focused on equipping participants with digital skills to help them adapt to the rapidly evolving media landscape.
It was funded by the EU with support from SFCG Nigeria, Media Career Development Network (MCDN), and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).
Team Lead of SWIJ, Ann Godwin, said the training aimed to equip female journalists with essential digital tools and strategies to stay competitive in the changing journalism industry.
She noted the importance of emotional intelligence in career progression, noting that success was driven not just by knowledge, but by how that knowledge was applied to create value and societal impact.
Godwin advised participants to set clear career goals, develop a positive mindset, prioritise self-care, learn from past experiences, and tackle challenges with emotional maturity.
Former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, in an address, cautioned journalists against over-reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly in investigative reporting.
Acknowledging the benefits of AI in journalism, she underscored the importance of critical thinking and human input.
Semenitari also encouraged women journalists to invest in continuous self-development, adding that their natural intuition gave them an edge in investigative reporting, an area often underutilised.
Speaking during a session, a member of the Common Ground Journalism Forum, Dr. Elizabeth Aduku, urged journalists to leverage social media for community peacebuilding.
She highlighted the need for conflict sensitivity, digital literacy, and fact-checking skills to combat misinformation.
Mass Media and Information Management Coordinator for SFCG, Sunny Dada, advocated solution-focused journalism.
He warned against sensational reporting that could incite conflict and instead urged journalists to promote unity through constructive storytelling.
Also, Executive Director of MCDN, Lekan Otufodunrin, encouraged journalists to routinely update their professional profiles and upgrade their skills in areas such as fact-checking, data journalism, analysis, and multimedia content production.
