Covering news can be brutal.
Journalists need to learn to prioritize their mental health
I remember the night the Nyanya bombing took place.
I refused to go and called a colleague to go to the scene and get the story.
I wasn't doing anything that night. I just didn't feel like going there to see what I knew anyone would see at the scene of a bombing.
Blood. Severed limbs.
Bodily fluids. Remains splattered on the floor and/or walls.
At this point I had witnessed: 1. Independence Day bombings
- October 1st, 2010
2. Police HQ blast
16th of June 2011
3. St Theresa's church Madallla, blast.
-25th of December, 2011
4. First Nyanya Blast
14th April, 2014
5. Banex Plaza Bombings
25th of June 2014
When this bombing came along that night, I just didn't feel like seeing another one. 6. 2nd Nyanya Blast
-3rd October, 2015
Like I said, reporters, prioritize your mental health.
Your mind can only handle so much.
And remember, you have only one mind.
Once in a while, when you feel overwhelmed with work, you need to take a break. #detox
In the course of your work, there are things you see that will be difficult to unsee.
You have to deliberately turn away and let some oxygen and water flow into your mind and wash it.
Journalism is a great profession. But you need to do some self therapy once in every while.
Do what works for you.
A friend of mine got married several years ago.
And based on what he had seen in Hollywood movies and advice from several unsolicited marriage counselors, he went down the democratic route at home.
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He decided to put everything on the table with his partner and wanted to split bills.
But according to him, they spent so much time squabbling and splitting hairs over money decisions.
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After a few years, he thought he should try another solution.
Yes.
He took responsibility and decided there and then that he would pay every last bill.
And guess what?
It worked.
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5 tips for better audio storytelling
By Chima Nwankwo
If you are a radio/podcast producer/reporter or aspire to be one, already do a podcast or want to, please read this.
I believe it will help.
One of the things I hear the most is that audio productions are limited.
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This is not really true.
Radio is a beautiful medium. Sometimes I would rather listen to shortwave radio because the reporters use the power of descriptive narrative and sounds to pull you into the story.
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Sometimes, it is so good that for a second, you forget yourself and actually exist within the purely fictitious walls that the producer has built.
Here are 5 things to note as a Radio/Podcast producer.
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By Modupe Ogunyemi
"I’m not an economist but I like kudi, so I pay close attention to economic trends. And as someone who has consistently urged young Nigerians to relocate in recent years, I feel compelled to give this small advice right now. Please grab a seat ☺
I moved to England in the wake of the 2007/ 08 economic recession. It was brutal. My #SurreyFam Tobe Obi can tell you how we hustled for every and any job. We applied for cleaning jobs sef and were rejected for lack of experience. Imagine, cleaning job o!
So yeah, I know firsthand what it’s like moving to a new country in an economic downturn. Those of you who are planning to move to Canada or the US this year, pay attention!
Nigeria has been through a few things.
Thursday the 16th of June, 2011, was a slow news day for me. It was a few days after the ex Inspector General of police, Hafiz Ringim had said the days of Boko Haram were numbered. Little did I know that things would change very quickly.
I was in a commercial Toyota Hiace Bus on my way to the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, when I heard what sounded like a distant explosion. I was curious to know what made the sound. When I got off the bus a few seconds later, I saw a thick plume of smoke in the distance.
I began to walk in the direction of the smoke. I realized it was coming from Louis Edet House; the Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force . When I got to the gate, there was chaos.