By Amaechi Miracle Chidinma
In order to remain relevant and sought after, female journalists must embrace change and adapt to new industry dynamics – a message that resonated at the just concluded Rivers State female journalists conference.
The two – days conference, themed “ Career Advancement Amidst Evolving Dynamics “ organized by Step- up for women in journalism initiative (SWIJ) in collaboration with the Common Ground Journalism Forum ( Rivers State) and in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Media Career Development Network brought together reporters, editors and broadcasters from across the state to deliberate on how women in the media industry can grow their careers while responding to changes.
Discussions at the event focused on digital transformation, self confidence and improvements, mentorships and collaborations. The need for networking, continuous learning and up skilling were emphasized by one of the key speakers Lilian Okonkwo – Ogabu, Deputy National President(NAWOJ ) Rivers State chapter, as they are skills for career advancement in the media industry.
The challenges faced by these women were also highlighted and solutions proffered by the speakers.
In the course of the event, participants also benefited from a pre- conference virtual session on Solution journalism during which facilitators urged participants to adopt reporting that highlights responses to challenges in the society. Mr Sunny Dada, Mass media and Information management coordinator, SFCG said “tell them about the steps that the government has taken, it gives the public hope for a solution”
The conference concluded with a shared resolve among participants to continuously adapt and sharpen their skills to stay relevant in journalism.
