I have taken sometime to study terrain of Nigerian journalism especially on campus, when it comes to campus Journalism, I have been able to explore all possible explorables and with sincere humility I can say there is nothing I have not encountered regarding campus Journalism, that will form the basis of this write up which I hope you find time to read through.
For three years I have been in the depth of campus Journalism and I know that most times the adage “You don’t talk while eating ” seem to be abused by quarters and in that sense ,it may mean you don’t complain about the food you are eating too but take it whether good or bad, perhaps that may be the way it is seen.
Recently, the spate of molestation makes me begin to wonder if it is student Journalists getting it wrong or some other quarters.
Media cannot be ruled out from the world, media is one of the few that survives even in a war ravaged country because information will continue to flow, so journalism still thrives even with the hardest conditions on campus .
This write-up aims to take a look at the critical issues killing campus Journalism , it is a known fact that Campus is meant to be a training ground and ground breaking Journalists must have received training from campus too.
Most times there are cases of the varsity management threatening to suspend a student for writing a report on something that happened in public glare, at that point questions come to my mind, when an incident has occurred in face of public and Journalists report it, why do we have annoyance emanating from it, most times Varsity authorities get annoyed over a publication by a student without looking at it from several angles ,for instance if a lecturer sends out a student for indecent dressing and the news is reported by a student Journalist , I see no reason why the lecturer who sent the student out should be annoyed, the issues at that moment are ;
When I take a decision as an individual, I will be ready to defend it and will be glad that the public knows of it to send a stance that I or an institution will not tolerate indiscipline, in some cases student Journalists get summon for writing such reports, there are things that I don’t understand about the Nigerian setting , any action we don’t want reported, should not be done , perhaps I may be wrong but my dilemma is the fact that in the real sense I would only be annoyed if you have reported without facts, but I will not be annoyed if you reported what I did..
Most times, Campus Journalists report issues of lack of facilities in the institutions , poor living conditions and the likes but end up receiving queries, the question that comes to my mind is ,do we have those issues existing ,if yes, it shouldn’t cause uproar, a case non-existent cannot be reported .
The other issue is stiffling of campus Journalists with threat of results, I have seen cases of Student Journalists been told they will see what will happen to their academic life based on reports but the truth is there is no difference between a man with Dane Gun and an authority that strives to kill the only voice that the voiceless rely on and that is the media. The issues don’t just limit themselves to authorities, even the Students’ Union want to show their supremacy ,I have seen cases of Union Leaders victimising Journalists with all means possible , sometimes , Journalists end up becoming scared , if not for existence of Union of Campus Journalists or Association of Campus Journalists that fight for her members, I cannot but imagine what would have become of campus media .
I am against using the pen for harm or violence but not militarising the media, history don’t forgive such.
When I was the National Chairman of Nigerian Campus Editors, we heard cases of a vice chancellor threatening Journalists in his varsity and sincerely I felt it then that the reason why Students go out to be leaders who won’t listen is based on the kind of training they receive , even as a Student Journalist, I have received several threats.
It becomes appalling when persons call a Journalist who posted a report and seize his phone threatening to deal with him,most times the question of if the event happened is usually ignored.
The repercussions are so evident , we are loosing fast courageous Journalists who will stand no matter what, because the campus that could have trained them has refused to, leaders are interested in killing Stories and victimising the writer than facing the issues , no country gets adequate governance with a weak media, but young men become old men, I have seen my mates telling me they will deal with me because they see my works as a threat to them.
The 21st Century Journalism involves social media , but even social media platforms like WhatsApp have become dangerous for news, I am still handing a case of a lecturer who used one of such powers , it is become a huge task to write and it doesn’t help the country because it will only leave the task of writing in the hands of few sincere individuals.
WAY FORWARD
Main stream news outlets should extend their focal lens on issues happening on campus with a bid to save the young and aspiring Journalists, only few can survive the situations that they are currently subjected to on some campuses
Freedom of speech should be respected, some joke that freedom after speech is more important, but it is only due to the nature of the country, we still need a review of human rights laws and it’s enforcement in Nigeria especially between lecturers and students.
I have said that my children may not attend any public Nigerian varsity due to issues ongoing there that you cannot even complain ,if the country is interested in vibrant youths, she has to safe those suffering on campus
The University managements of various schools should not be fast in stiffling Pressmen, the power of the pen cannot be underemphasized instead a more student-management relationship be built and clamour for objectivity in reportage should be a forefronter .
It is usually painful when we hear of “our university image” the question is the current issues where we have no university ranked among the first 30 in Africa isn’t image damaging enough “?
Let me stop here for now.
But lets note “The essence of Education is lost when people you produce are dummies and those who cannot speak up for their right or complain about situations, at that point it is no longer Education but intellectualism turned upside down with emission of a dangerous toxic acid ”
Olanrewaju Oyedeji
President,
Association of Campus Journalists,
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-ife.