Experts task photojournalists on upscaling for global competitiveness

By Felicia Nwosu

In the bid to provide a holistic measure that will help its members guide against uncertainties and several challenges that may likely undermine the responsive and responsible process of storytelling with pictures, experts have tasked photojournalists to up their game by upscaling their skills and tools for global competitiveness. This they noted will enable them tailor out strategies that will help practitioners navigate through the job especially at the upcoming general elections, without endangering their lives while promoting professionalism among members.

This was reaffirmed at the Guild of Photojournalists Nigeria, GPN 2nd Annual Conference, Exhibition and Awards Night with the theme: Storytelling and Associated Challenges of Security, Logistics, Education in an Election Year,” held at the monumental Lagos Country Club, GRA, Ikeja on 2 November, 2022.

Abiodun Ajala, Chairman, Guide of Photojournalists Nigeria, agreed that the profession has evolved over the years while appreciating some of the stakeholders for their immense contributions towards the growth of the association.

“The Guild Of Photojournalists Nigeria has been marching forth in strength and progressive professional standards since our maiden edition. Since the media establishment has to serve as the conscience of the country, this edition has been dedicated to Storytelling and Associated Challenges of Security, Logistics ,Education in an Election Year,” The challenge, here, is to deliberate on the modalities by which we can tell our mass media stories as honestly as possible. It is commonly stated that a good photograph is worth more than a thousand words This amplifies the fact that photography is a uniquely excellent platform for story-telling. However, our focus, in this context, is on how story-telling has to be professionally managed to protect the integrity of the individual, the corporate body, as well as the social group while guaranteeing justice and mutually beneficial national cohesion.“

Chairman of the event, Professor Bola Akinterinwa, former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) confirmed that the theme was a timely appraisal of what the practitioners go through in getting their job done in the amidst various challenges and suggested that such an event should be encouraged and sustained.

It is not always every time that you begin a journey that you complete the journey happily, no, the beauty lies in the fact that you have started a journey, but the better part is how to ensure that you land safely.”

The former NIIA DG explained that the society does not understand the challenges associated in getting pictures and so does not appreciate the job of the photojournalist. Professor Akinterinwa therefore urged them to remain committed to sustain the passion, as well as to sharpen their skills in order to become globally competitive.

“When photojournalists are in an event like this, they struggle to get pictures that will sell, in doing so, they focused attention on the subject while backing the high table while those on the high table would be complaining, yet they want report and photographs, even the politicians need the photojournalist to promote their political agenda. This Guild of photojournalist is the spirit of solidarity of oneness. You must learn to be confident. In this particular case, you must compete with other photojournalists both within and outside the continent as these are all your competitors.“

Lekan Otufodurin, Chief Executive Officer, Media Career Development Network, who unfold the subtheme: “Visual Communication: Threat or Asset to National Security and Social Development in Election Year,” as a guest speaker also commended the organisers for raising the bar for others to emulate and for following the tides of time in the ever changing media landscape to promote professionalism through such an event.

He said more than ever before, that the world lives in a multimedia age where in the real world everything has converged and no more separated and that today, everyone is involved in one form of visual communication or the other. He noted that in every arm of the media, there is need to improve the standard of practice and the skills of the professionals for them to remain relevant and also top reserve the interest of the profession from the influx of quacks. by “Visual communication is very important and should be seen as such beyond text and word as it ensure that the purpose of communication is achieved.

On whether visual communication is a threat or asset, the answer is a yes and a no, depending on the view of perspective. In an election year, as we prepare for the general elections and other periods, visual communication can be a great asset to national security and social development if properly utilised ,where national security or national defense simply means the defense of our sovereign state which include the citizens, economy and decision which is expected as a duty of government while social development is about improving the well being of every individual in a society so that they can reach their full potential.

He underscored some of the roles played by these media players as agents of change to both the government and citizens.

“Communication is a very key factor that can make or mar an election even democracy in a country and that visual communicators including photojournalist and other practitioners have a major role to play by not doing anything that will undermine the security of the country. Ahead of the election visual communication can help the government to enforce the need for peace and stability of the country without which a free and fair election cannot be guaranteed.“

He added that visual communication can also be a threat if not done ethically as the old saying that pictures cannot lie is no longer true with the introduction of various software which can be used to alter images for several ulterior motives and that seeing is no longer believing when it comes to images in today’s technological transitions. Otufodurin charged the photojournalist practitioners to up their game through upscaling their skills and tools at the same time to be at par and competitive with global practice.