JADESeminars Mentorship Project _ Threats and Opportunities of Online Journalism

As stakeholders in the unity and development of the country, how are journalists contributing to the resolution of the conflicts in the country through their reports? How accurately are the conflicts being reported in the media and what has been the role of conventional and online media, and as well bloggers in highlighting the conflicts and offering solutions?

This was the overriding motivation behind the JADESeminar Mentorship Program developed by JADESeminar in collaboration with The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nigeria. The latest session held on 20 August 2021, under the mentorship program, covered the Threats and Opportunities of Online Journalism. It brought together over 30 young journalists and notable senior journalists to discuss the issue of fact-based and accurate reporting by journalists, especially in the era of technology.

In the age of Information communication technology (ICT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has revolutionised the media, influencing how journalists gather and disseminate news, it is very important to evaluate how ICT-savvy young journalists who deploy a multimedia approach to news gathering and reporting, are influencing positively or negatively, the conflicts across the country. The Session was also an opportunity for young journalists to renew their commitment to the ethics of the profession as they seek to report events in real-time using new media. The Mentorship program is, therefore, an empowerment tool designed to bring into contact successful professionals with younger ones to enable them to interact and exchange ideas and through such interaction, impart tips on success. It continues to create an open space for journalism career guidance, as well as connect young journalists with mentors who will support them to brace the challenges and opportunities with the Journalism profession.