Items of interest to African journalists:
June 2006 Nairobi Fellowship Report
Greetings from Nairobi. The June meeting of the Nairobi fellowship went on fine and we had a good discussion.
The discussion centered on the Da Vinci Code movie and how as Christian journalists we can tackle the issue. What came out was that as journalists we belong to the group of artists and that we should allow others to artistically express themselves. The other issue was that in as far as Tom Hanks and the producers of the movie have a right to do their thing, where does that leave us as believers because at the root of the message, if our Lord and saviour was not sent of God but a mere mortal who had a family- as the movie alleges- then the very foundation of our faith is shaken. Should we go the Muslim way and declare fatwa on those committing sacrilege? The agreement was that our God is very capable of defending Himself and that we can never purport to physically fight others in His name. All that we need is to ask Him for wisdom and as Christian journalists we are uniquely positioned in that we can use our newspaper and broadcast slots to tell the world the true position of Christ's ministry on earth.
The meeting closed on that high note and we set the date for the next meeting for July 1, 2006 at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation staff canteen on Harry Thuku Road, opposite the Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi.
cheers and blessings
Tom Osanjo
May 2006 Lagos Fellowship Report
Journalism Lessons from the Book of Jeremiah
It is not unusual for journalists to sometimes wonder if their work is worth the efforts they put in especially when they are advocating for changes in their society, which most times never materialise.
Year after year we write about issues like corruption in government, injustice to the common man, the need to improve the standard of living of the people but nobody seems to be listening to us.
"Is it really worth writing about anything when nothing will change" a colleague once wondered aloud at an editorial board meeting. "All the ones we have written since what has changed" he asked.
My colleague's feeling is similar to that of Prophet Jeremiah in his days according to the Bible.
Although Jeremiah was ordained a prophet to the nation by the Lord himself, his messages fell on deaf ears, how much more reports by "bloody journalists" like us.
A lack of response according to the Life application Study Bible commentary, made Jeremiah wonder if he was doing any good at all. He often felt discouraged and sometimes bitter.
The frustrating situation Jeremiah found himself was part of the issues discussed at the Bible Study during the monthly fellowship of Journalists for Christ in Lagos on May 20.
Discussants at the meeting noted the similarities in the experience of the average African journalists and prophet Jeremiah. They noted that though Jeremiah served as God's spokesperson for 40 years, nobody listened to him.
"People may not heed our advise and may ignore our reports but we must courageously and faithfully disseminate the information we have.
"We must like Jeremiah be obedient to our calling and be ready, even at personal cost speak the truth to power because that is what God has called us to do in journalism" said Lekan Otufodunrin,
National Coordinator of the group.
Kingsley Obom-Egbulem, Information Resource officer of Journalists Against AIDS noted that though God knows that the people will not
listen to Jeremiah's message, he was still directed to give the message to "stiff-necked people".
The group's Chaplain, Pastor David Alabi urged journalists to always realise there is a purpose why God brought them into journalism. "There is a reason why you are not in another profession and unless
you fulfil your purpose by writing what you are supposed to write you may end up not been faithful to your calling.
"Instead of wondering if your message is getting across, you should just do your own bit and leave the rest to God who knows the end from the beginning" Pastor Alabi said.
The next meeting will hold on June 20 at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos.
May Fellowship Report - Nairobi, Kenya
The May fellowship went on well and we had two new members- Shisia Wasilwa and Jemima Kiluku both of KBC joining us. we also thank God that we have a venue we will use for as long as we want in the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation canteen, thanks to intervention by Chris Khisa.
A misunderstanding on the time caused disruptions in some people's programmes. Initially we said we would meet at 10 am and this later changed to 7.30 but some people still had the earlier time.
Chris Khisa led us in the word from Jeremiah chapter one and he exhorted us to trust in the Lord to help us tell the story- both professionally and of our faith. this is because He has given us the power and the word to say.
We agreed to have contact persons in all the media outlets and embark more aggressively on person to person fellowship especially targetting the new comers into the newsroom. There was also an agreement to seek ways of helping our brethren in Uganda kick start their fellowship and I undertook to contact some of them over the same.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 3 at the same venue and there will be a reminder before that time.
Meanwhile be all blessed and keep the faith
- Tom Osanjo - tomosanjo@yahoo.com
APRIL FELLOWSHIP REPORT - Nigeria
We bring you the good news of the Lagos April fellowship held on
Saturday, April 15 at the International Press Centre, Lagos.
We are glad to report that we had a good time in the presence of the
Lord with praise and worship session and group reading and
discussion from our new book, Uncovering The Truth- A Journalist's
journey from atheism to Christianity.
Our new sticker with the bold inscription I AM A JOURNALIST FOR
CHRIST was also presented to members.
The joint reading session provided members the opportunity to learn
from the experience of Lee Strobel, an award-winning American
journalist who spent about two years investigating the truth about
the gospel before he gave his life to Christ.
Among the lessons learnt was that we should not stop trusting God
for the salvation of our colleagues. Stroblel's wife with the
support of some women in her church kept praying for him until he
confessed that "It's real and it's true".
The prayer point of the women was Ezekiel 36: 26 which states
that "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and I will put a new
spirit within you. I' ll remove your heart of stone and I will give
you a heart of flesh".
By the time the reading of the 24 page booklet was over, members
confirmed that the session was spiritually uplifting as it
demonstrated how God can use a journalist who yields to His leading.
During the meeting we received greetings from our members outside
the country, Betty Onuh in United States for a six months fellowship
and Adeola Akinremi in South Africa for a months research project.
The next meeting holds on May 20.
Lekan Otufodunrin
National Coordinator,
Journalists for Christ, Lagos, Nigeria
Journalists Advised to Desire Excellent Spirit.
by Lekan Otufodunrin
Christian journalists have been urged to desire the spirit of
excellence and make it their guiding principle in discharging their
professional duties.
This advice was offered by the Chaplain of the Journalists for Christ
in Nigeria, Reverend David Alabi at the January fellowship of the
organization held on Saturday, January 22 in Lagos.
Like Daniel in the Bible, Alabi said an excellent spirit will always
make the Christian journalist be preferred than their other
colleagues.
"An excellent spirit will require that you are very professional in
your work, you don't cut corners, you do things thoroughly. You must
let things be done decently and in order as Christ's ambassador in the
media" Alabi advised.
According to Alabi "even without mentioning it, your excellent spirit
must be visible to not only your colleagues but the people you
report".
Lamenting that many Christian professionals have fallen short of
God's standards in their work, Reverend Alabi told members of the
group at the meeting that they must "strive to be very faithful in
all they do with no fault found in you"
"In these days we are in you must not be faulted on your love for God
and his commandments. Your word must be your bond. You must not be a
blemish to the testimony of Christ in your beats or newsrooms" Rev
Alabi counselled.
The National Coordinator of the group, Lekan Otufodunrin urged
members to remain steadfast in their faith and trust the Lord to see
them through the new year.
He announced plans to hire a full time administrative officer for the
group by the end of the month to ensure that the impact of the
organisation is felt in the media across the country.
TESTIMONY GALORE AT JOURNALISTS FELLOWSHIP
Report of the December 2005 Journalists for Christ meeting
Lagos, Nigeria
It was testimony galore at the end of year Fellowship of Journalists for Christ (JFC) held on Saturday, December 17, 2005 at the International Press Centre, Lagos, Nigeria
Participants from a cross section of media organizations shared testimonies of divine interventions in their professional and
individual lives.
They thanked God for sparing their lives during the outgoing year and prayed for continous blessings and protection in 2006.
"I thank God for how I have excelled in my work as a producer of Igbo language programme on radio" said Okafor Njideka of Bond 92.2 FM, Lagos.
"Although I read Mass Communication not Igbo language, I have done so well that I have been commended for doing better than even people who
studied the language. I just blessed God for the wisdom He has given me".
A Journalism lecturer, Oby recalled how she got employed in a media training institution and within a month, she was sent on a training abroad in place of other staff.
A staff of Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS), Ogechi who came to Lagos late last year without having any relative in the city gave glory to God for providing her with a job as a programme officer.
The National Coordinator of JFC, Lekan Otufodunrin spoke of how God has fulfilled the prophesy of his Church that 2005 will be a turning point for members.
"In 1999, I left my job as News Editor of The Punch and the news agency I was writing for also folded up. Since then I have tried many things. Some have worked some have not. Its been hard surviving but
God has really made this year a turning point for me.
"As the year was getting to an end, I got an opportunity to be a stringer for an international news agency and will on Monday resume
work as Editor of a weekly national daily. Its really the Lord's doing" Otufodunrin said.
The Chaplain of JFC, Pastor David Alabi led the prayer session during which prayers were offered for divine guidance and protection for journalists in the New Year.
He prayed for wisdom and strength to enable Christian journalists live up to their callings despite the various challenges being faced
by the media in the country.
Lekan Otufodunrin
Lagos, Nigeria
ORITRSEJAFOR ENDOWS ANNUAL YOUNG JOURNALISTS AWARD
The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has endowed an annual award for young journalists in the country.
Pastor Oritsejafor said he was interested in supporting the development of media practice in Nigeria to conform to international standards.
"As future editors and managers, we need to ensure that young journalists are committed to excellence and given the encouragement to see journalism as a profession through which they can contribute to nation building.
"Journalism is too important a profession to be left to youngsters without vision. Journalism needs the brightest and the best young graduates. That is why an award like this is unique and worthy of the support of anyone who appreciates the role of the media" Oritsejafor stated.
The Executive Director of Media Career Services, Lekan Otufodunrin further explained that the award is meant to recognize and encourage young journalists who have demonstrated high commitment to their work and distinguished themselves among their contemporaries in the first two years of practice.
He or she must have earned the commendation or awards for outstanding performance by supervising editors or any recognized media organization for major editorial assignment.
The award is part of MDN's Young Journalists Development concept, which includes an annual Young Journalists Conference, Young Journalists Network and Young Journalists Lecture. The organization also publishes Stop Press, the career-moulding newsletter for journalists.
Lekan Otufodunrin
Executive Director
