The Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, has urged corps members in the state to take advantage of the social media to enhance their career in journalism and become self reliant.
He made the call while speaking to corps members of Editorial Community Developmental Service in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday.
According to him, the journalism profession is beyond the terrain of the office due to the evolution of new media which has facilited massive viewership at a spot.
Babatuyi noted that new media has become a veritable alternative to unemployment.
“Create a blog with which you can publish stories , this will enable you to build goodwill.
All graduate of Mass communication must run a blog.
More than 4.7 billion people use social media, equal to roughly 60% of the world’s population
“You will agree with me that no any other System has this advantage to accommodate as much as social media.
“Aside the fact that social media enhanced commutation, reduces depression and bottled neck anger it has also remained as a veritable means to make individual popular over night, expose rots and provide financial benefits. Linda Ikeji, gist lover etc.
There are many social media platforms that can be used either as Journalists or individual to make money but the fact remains that many people have access to the platform but do not really have the understanding of how best it should be used.
He also advised corps members who are interested in the profession to register with the Nigeria Union of Journalists which is an umbrella body that can protect and agitate for their well-being.
In his words: “Journalism is a profession that has a lot of hazards. I advice you to join the NUJ for protection, we will be there for as long as you do the right thing”.
He also advised them to be creative in making contents as it is crucial in journalism, adding that the content must be factual and comply with ethics of the profession.
He stressed that journalists working on traditional media can engage with online platform but ensure it doesn’t clash with their primary employment.
“Even in the public service, earlier before now public servants are only permitted to work as farmers but today they are encouraged to engage in entrepreneurship.”