US Consulate, Media Centre Host Journalism Clinic in Lagos

By Mohammed Aminu Yahaya

The US Consulate in Nigeria, in partnership with the Media Career Development Center, hosted a Journalism Clinic at its Consulate in Lagos, with an aim to repositioning the Nigerian media for more impactful and development driven reporting.

The insightful one day training brought together journalists from various beats and platforms, including student journalists, with facilitators emphasising the urgency for the media to shift its spotlight from sensational headlines to solution based stories that address Nigeria’s pressing socio-economic issues.

Speaking during their separate sessions, the Editor-in-Chief of DevReporting, Mojeed Alabi and Premium times Correspondent, Mariam Ileyemi, underscored the important role of development journalism in nation-building.

They described it as a field that prioritises issues such as education, health, community empowerment, governance, climate change, and human capital growth.

They explained that the media serves as a catalyst for societal progress when it focuses attention on problems alongside practical solutions that inspire community action and policy response.

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Participants were also trained on ethical storytelling, data-driven reporting, and contextual multimedia accuracy skills considered essential for strengthening Nigeria’s information ecosystem.

The clinic equally challenged journalists to rethink newsroom priorities and pursue stories that uplift communities, hold institutions accountable, and advance national development.

Organisers of the media clinic, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting a vibrant press in Nigeria, noting that responsible journalism remains a pillar of democracy. They encouraged reporters to leverage the tools and insights gained from the clinic to promote narratives that foster growth rather than division.