Kadaria Ahmed advises journalists on accountability, trust in reporting 

A media entrepreneur and Managing Director (MD) of Radio Now 95.3fm Mrs. Kadaria Ahmed, has advised Nigerian journalists to make quality, trust and accountability their watchwords.

Mrs. Ahmed, who was guest speaker at the  Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) professional forum spoke under the theme: “Building Media Career in the 21st Century – The challenges and opportunities”.

Mrs. Ahmed also emphasised constant skill-up for the journalist in a world where average was no longer enough, saying that there is a difference between the journalist and other content creators.

She said that media houses that would do well at this time must be able to win the confidence and trust of their audiences, and also sustain it.

Asserting that ability to create content did not make one a journalist, she said the latter had additional responsibility given that people tend to rely on the information he pushes out to take important life decisions.

Digital competence, niche marketing and ability to research topics and also to analyse data were also identified as desirable by the speaker.

Advising her audience against underestimating their capabilities, she recalled a childhood visit to the office of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in company of her father, and how that visit fired her zeal to make impact in life through the avenue of the media.

According to her, it was years later when she returned to the same company to sign a contract that she remembered that earlier dream and how it had come to reality.

Reacting to questions from the audience, Mrs. Ahmed maintained that it was possible for journalists to maintain integrity even in the midst of wide-spread financial distress in the industry, and avoid brown envelop gratification.

Asserting that there were several opportunities open to the journalist with a purpose, she listed open-source intelligence, social media expertise, audio production, web development and computer programming as areas that could still be tapped.

Mrs. Ahmed was later presented with a gift by the Provost, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye.

Other members of staff at the event include, the Deputy Provost, Dr Dele Omojuyigbe, Registrar, Mrs. Patricia Kalesanwo; Head of Department of Mass Communication, Mr. Michael Osuji, as well as his General Studies counterpart, Dr Adeboye Ola.