Rivers
Semenitari Tasks Female Journalists On Creativity
Former Commissioner for Information and Communications in Rivers State, Dame Ibim Semenitari, has urged women journalists to adapt to new mode of digital journalism.
Speaking as a Special Guest at a two-day capacity training organized by Step-Up for Women in Journalism Initiative with foreign collaborators held, Thursday, in Port Harcourt, she stressed that trainings and frequent capacity workshops will help arm female journalists to meet with current changes, and upgrade professionalism.
“We have to demand more of ourselves. We have to be versatile in our field”, she stated.
The former Rivers spokesperson stressed the need for women journalists to maximize tech skills, while also underscoring the importance of artificial intelligence in modern reportage.
According to her, “women have edge in investigative journalism because of natural instincts of intuition, patience, and courage”.
Earlier, the Chairman of the State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Paul Bazia, while speaking through the Vice Chairman, Kevin Nengia, pledged support to the Step-Up For Women Journalists Initiative.
Bazia harped on professional development in transforming the profession, stating that the recent revalidation of journalists across the nation remains one path to upgrade the status of journalism in the country.
He, therefore, urged the body not to relent in making sure women in the profession are armed to meet with modern trend.
On her part, Executive Directive of the Initiative, Mrs. Ann Godwin, said the body has been in existence since four years in driving excellence in journalism.
“We push for newsroom leaders to put policies and bring changes in their organisations”, Godwin said.
This, she explained, the body does by mentoring women in journalism.
She expressed hope that many practicing female journalists would be able to meet current challenges and adapt to technological shifts in the profession.
By: Kevin Nengia