𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐇𝐎𝐌 𝐈𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐍;

𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐀𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐀-𝐀𝐙 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄!

Fellow colleagues representing the

fourth estate of the realm,

here is a reporter down history lane,

who has no facts to his news story,

he probably heard a rumor

via his long antenna,

then,

decided to broadcast the message,

immediately through social media.

I guess his Editor knew better

when he tried to restrain him from sharing a shallow news story,

The Editor asked Reporter-Ahima-az thus;

" why will you run, seeing that

you will have no reward for the tiding?"

But, all to no avail;

the constraint did fell on deaf ears!.

This ignorant and inexperienced reporter responded-

"Come what may,

let me also run and carry tidings!"

In his mind's eye, he thought he could

out-run and out-smart

the messenger who had a message with the full gist,

because the latter was fully abreast of the event that transpired at the scene in question.

In addition, the real reporter had a wonderful attribution to his news story.

Alas!

The shallow reporter did outran the real Reporter with substance!

A common scenario in our contemporary time.

He became the first to broadcast the news content to the anxious audience.

He probably got a scoop that attracted traffic!.

But,

a few moment thereafter,

he soon met his water-loo!

With just a question from the targeted audience,

whom he ignorantly failed to target,

his new story became unworthy!

A simple question and interrogation from his receiver caught him unawares,

he wasn't prepared for their feedback!

I can vividly say,

his communication skill set was nothing to write home about!

You see,

just a simple question of-

"My dear correspondent 𝐀𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐀-𝐀𝐙,

 Is it well with the young man Absalom?"

he became startled and speechless for sometime.

Then, in shame he mumbled out his incompetence,-

 "I saw a great tumult, 

but I don't know what it was."

Oh!

Ahima-az, the reporter,

Indeed, you are a disgrace to this profession!

You only saw, and then you decided to share without taking time to know more!

You are not qualified to embark on this noble task,

failure to recognize the- What,

not taking time to find out the- Why,

while ignoring the- When and How

doesn't make a good story.!

Familiarizing yourself with the Who alone, isn't good enough to make a news story newsworthy!

A simple interview session from the king, sent cold chills down this reporter’s spine!

Oh!

This inexperienced young sharp had no definite answer.

In shame, he quickly paraphrased another worthless statement of-

"The Lord has delivered the King from the power of his enemies!."

I'm sure king David was not satisfied with this casual and unfactual response,

so he was ignored and banished from the media industry!

How do I know this?

The king's next line of action says it all!

And the king said, "turn aside, and stand here."

So, he turned aside, and stood still.

Yes,

He was silenced and excommunicated!

You can fact-check the story yourself in-

✅11 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙪𝙚𝙡 18:19-33.

Soon, a change in tide came,

when Cushite came on board, bringing in a newsworthy event!

A glance at the 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱, 

with the body and conclusion,

there was no interjection but a perfect connection!.

Just take a deep look at his captivating

Title;

📌"Good Tidings For My Lord The King."

Another delve into the Lead,

shows that he knows his Pepper and Onions;

📌"For the Lord has delivered you this day from the power of all who rose up against you."

And when his main target audience interviewed him thus-

"Is it well with the young man Absalom?"

the Reporter's coded response to that question was-

📌"May the enemies of my Lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man."

The king got the information!

Indeed the feedback from  king David is a testament to the fact that-

the message was communicated correctly!

Why this long Episode dear friends and colleagues?

I'm sure you want to know,

Yes, 

it's another time to celebrate-

World Press Freedom Day with the theme;

“A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.”

So,

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 

𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞,

𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞

𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐢𝐟 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝.

Hence,

before launching out your news story,

kindly source out your facts and figures first.

Don't give out shallow substance as news stories, it might cause crises.

Half truth isn't good enough,

it's time to do better by reporting with objectivity and balance.

Yes, you may be the first to report,

but if your story lacks the basic 5Ws and H, it might end up in noise, rumor, and may not be newsworthy after all!.

In the long run,

such a message may eventually get ignored or outrightly turned down.

Afterall,

the audience is more interested in you, breaking the facts down, thereby limiting the effects of misinformation, disinformation and untold propaganda!

Dear Friends and associates, let's bother less with the syndrome of-

"Being the first to break the news."

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 

isn't it true that-

the man who loves to always announce his arrival suggests to all that he has not yet arrived!

So, gentlemen of the Press,

let's gently and kindly kiss the message by- 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, while reporting with accuracy.

𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Inorder to  champion this course as Journalist, let us put at bay the effect of fake news, which has done more crises to our society and planet earth.

Kindly take your time to cross check and fact check before you break out heart breaking content or stories to the audience.

If the populace is served a better menu, that has a recipe of facts, figures and balance,

I believe, it would free the planet from crises.

Don't you think so too?

©️ Jimoh Elizabeth Oluwaseyi

#Press Freedom Day

#Journalism

#SoJo

#Christiancommunicator

#POP

#Proclaimerofpiety

#NIJ

#NUJ

#Factcheck

#A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.