It was an engaging week for the new set of journalists of PUNCH Newspapers as they converged at the headquarters of the media house, PUNCH Place, Magboro, Ogun State, for a two-week training beginning from Monday, 17 July 2023. The training hosted by Punch Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with PUNCH Media Foundation, seeks to build the capacity of PUNCH journalists, positioning them as change agents and effective watchdogs in the media space through impactful storytelling.
The training commenced with an orientation programme that gave participants general knowledge about Punch Nigeria Limited. Among other things, the history and culture of PUNCH, a walk through PUNCH’s handbook, and an introduction to the board and management of PUNCH were the highlights of the orientation. Also, heads of departments had the opportunity to make presentations about what they do in their department and how their functions concern participants.
The orientation program was an outstanding success, highlighted by the insightful presentations delivered by the heads of each department, who eloquently articulated their crucial roles within the organization.
Participants of the training, comprising new reporters and experienced journalists, had so much to glean from the various sessions of the training facilitated by media experts, including Dayo Aiyetan of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Maureen Popoola of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and Wale Fatade of The Conversation Africa, among others. Sessions on news reporting and writing, story ideation, exclusive reporting, and journalism ethics, among others, gave participants a practical insight into journalism.
Mr Wale Fatade provided insights into crafting persuasive and concise pitches that effectively communicate the essence of a story.
Dr Jide Johnson took participants through the basics of news writing, highlighting that any journalist who does not seek mastery in the art of writing by reading the works of great writers has no business in journalism. Also, Lekan Adetayo captivated the participants in a hands-on session he facilitated on news writing as practised in PUNCH Newspapers. Additionally, Fisayo Soyombo while addressing the fundamentals of investigative journalism, charged participants to dig deep into issues and not just take them at face value.
Aside from the plenary sessions, participants engaged in various break-out activities that encouraged learning and allowed intermingling. The Shared Experience Series that featured Olusola Fabiyi, the Editor, Weekend Titles of PUNCH Newspapers, would remain in the memory of participants for a long time to come as the guest passionately spoke about the sacrifices of a typical journalist citing practical instances of his career experience. This and more intriguing sessions which took place in the first week of the training, made both the participants and the organisers anticipate another training week with high hope.
As the 2023 Punch Immersion Training Programme draws to a close, we are delighted to share with you a collection of captivating images that vividly portray the essence and energy of the previously concluded sessions by facilitators. The images and video clips below serve as relived memories, showcasing the valuable knowledge and experiences gained during this enriching training programme.
Through the lens of the camera, these beautiful moments are immortalized, becoming cherished memories of a transformative Journey. Each Snapshot captures the essence of the PUNCH Immersion Training Programme- a journey of growth, excellence and making a positive impact through the power of storytelling.
