Dr Uche Nworah, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), has called on journalists to search for grants and fellowships with a view to updating themselves professionally.
Nworah made the call on Saturday during the maiden State Executive Council and stakeholders meeting of newly-elected executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra State Council.
He urged journalists to cultivate the business aspect of the profession, especially at the moment when the audience is tuning off from the conventional media channels.
Nworah noted that traditional media are fast fading out as new media are pushing content mostly online reducing the need of traditional media.
He urged journalists to immediately begin to re-strategise, to take responsibility for their outputs, training and to rearrange their content formula to remain in business.
Nworah advised journalists to down play unionism but engage in a more pragmatic way to function to remain relevant as the profession is fast embracing new media idea.
“Now is time to pursue online journalism than being restricted to pen and paper journalism. Be a content creator with creativity, and you will always remain relevant,” he said.
Earlier in his address, the new chairman of the Anambra State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Dr Emeka Odogwu, said that the meeting was to cross fertilise ideas on how to move the union forward.
Odogwu said that the collective interest of the union remains the priority of his administration and called on all members to be supportive.
He said his main target includes the attraction of some stakeholders to develop the NUJ secretariat, proper surveying of the NUJ premises, among others.
Odogwu said that he has set up about 30 committees to help run the union and urged members of the union also brainstormed on how best to help the new executive achieve every of its target.
A former chairman of the union in Anambra State, Mr Victor Agusiobo, urged the new executive to incorporate consistent efforts to reach its goals, without leaving any member behind.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that media dignitaries in attendance were the immediate-past Head, Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Chinwe Uzochukwu, Mr Francis Ekpone, the immediate past council chairman, Mrs Ifeoma Obi, General Manger, Unizik FM.
NAN reports that Odogwu was elected Anambra council chairman on January 28. (NAN)