By Lekan Otufodunrin
CONGRATULATIONS TO all our colleagues and other journalists I have seen online celebrating their induction as members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)
Becoming a certified member of NIPR is a good way of having additional career opportunities along with being an experienced journalist.
Even without being a member of NIPR, many journalists have been practicing one form of Public Relations or the other.
However, the leadership of NIPR, especially the present national executive has been making it clear that it’s illegal to be engaged in PR without being a member of the Institute.
They are obviously succeeding which explains why many are signing up to be members and proudly announcing their induction.
The determined move by the NIPR has got me thinking about what we can learn to ensure some sanity in our profession.
What can we do to ensure that active membership of our own Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is something we can all be proud of?
How long will it take us to agree on a form of self-regulation since we have good reasons to doubt the sincerity of government regulation?
How can we ensure that aspiring and practicing journalists appreciate the need to have the necessary minimal professional qualifications?
How can NUJ give new journalists a sense of belonging by working with media owners to induct them into the profession and provide necessary orientation and continuous learning opportunities as NIPR does?
How can the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) enhance its capacity to offer certification for non-graduates of journalism?
There are several media groups in the country showcasing best practices in promoting professionalism in media practice, but we need to work together to enhance the status of NUJ.
If people get a sense that we are all committed to ensuring standards in our profession, they will have no choice but to fall in line as some of us are doing regarding Public Relations.
If we are proud to be members of NIPR, why should we not be of the NUJ?
