The Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Wale Ojo-Lanre, has advised newly admitted students of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Ekiti Campus, to rise above the wave of untrained citizen reporting by embracing development journalism as a responsible and professional path.
Speaking during the matriculation ceremony held in Ado-Ekiti, Ojo-Lanre delivered a lecture titled “Development Journalism: The Responsible Pathway for Rookie Journalists in the Age of Phone Journalism.” He noted that journalism is undergoing a major transformation, driven largely by mobile phones and social media platforms.
According to him, while technology has made publishing easier and more accessible, it has also encouraged the spread of fake news, blackmail, propaganda, rumours, and unethical reporting practices. He warned that many people now present themselves as journalists simply because they own smartphones and have access to the internet.
Ojo-Lanre stressed that journalism should not be reduced to gossip, noise, or reckless online posting, but must remain a disciplined profession built on ethics, fairness, verification, balance, and service to the public.
He encouraged the students to distinguish themselves by embracing development journalism, which he described as journalism focused on social progress, community growth, institutional performance, and the overall welfare of the people.
“Development journalism goes beyond reporting events. It examines the meaning, impact, and relevance of policies and projects to ordinary people,” he explained.
Using practical examples, he said a development journalist should not simply report that a road or hospital has been commissioned, but should investigate how such projects benefit the people, whether they are functional, sustainable, and accessible.
The former Nigerian Tribune journalist also reflected on his personal journey into journalism. Despite already holding a degree in History and studying for a Master’s degree, he enrolled at IIJ in 1997 after discovering that professional journalism required more than writing ability.
He recalled being denied professional registration by the Nigerian Union of Journalists because he lacked formal journalism training at the time — an experience that pushed him to pursue professional education at IIJ.
According to him, the experience taught him the clear difference between being a writer and being a trained journalist.
“A writer may entertain, but a journalist must inform responsibly. A journalist must rely on facts, ethics, fairness, balance, and public interest,” he said.
Ojo-Lanre congratulated the matriculating students for choosing formal journalism training, describing their admission into IIJ as the beginning of their transformation into certified media professionals.
He reminded them that speaking fluent English or having a large social media following does not automatically make anyone a journalist, just as legal vocabulary alone cannot make someone a lawyer without proper legal training.
“A phone is only a tool, not a newsroom,” he stated, adding that professional journalism training remains essential because phones cannot teach ethics, verification, media law, or responsibility.
He also clarified that development journalism should never be confused with propaganda or public relations, noting that journalists must be willing to both commend good governance and expose failures where necessary.
According to him, the role of the journalist is not to serve government or oppose it blindly, but to serve society and the public interest.
Ojo-Lanre further urged students interested in entertainment, lifestyle, and society journalism to include developmental perspectives in their reporting by focusing on areas such as culture, tourism, local businesses, youth empowerment, and the creative economy.
He advised them to avoid reckless subjectivity, propaganda, and malicious reporting, stressing that journalists should be bold but responsible, critical but constructive, and passionate without abandoning professionalism.
In his closing remarks, he encouraged the students to respect their lecturers, study beyond classroom notes, understand media law, strengthen their research skills, verify information carefully, and remain committed to serving society through credible journalism.
He described development journalism as the most responsible pathway for young journalists in today’s era of phone-driven reporting and praised IIJ as an institution dedicated to shaping disciplined and ethical media professionals.
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