Media expert advocates regular ‘use of language’ training for journalists

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

A media expert, Mr Sola Imoru has called on media owners and managers to organise regular training for journalists in the area of use of language.

Mr Imoru, who spoke at the WESTERN POST 2024 Annual Retreat with the theme “The role of the media in regional integration and development”, held at the OOPL Green Legacy Resort, Abeokuta, Ogun State, stated that language is the tool for processing, and conveying information to the audience, comprising readers, listeners and viewers.

Speaking on the topic “Use of English for Journalists,” he stressed that a journalist who cannot capture, retain and sustain the attention of his audience has failed to do his job well.

Imoru stated further that good communication skills are weapons in the hands of a good writer or journalist, saying that lack of it is repelling like body odour.

He said, “A good journalist must be competent in language skills and communication levels. The four language skills are reading, writing, listening and speaking, while the communication levels are expressive and receptive.”

The media expert pointed out that the reason errors are continually recycled, is because journalists are passive readers even of their own stories.

According to him: ” One of the tragedies of the pen profession in our nation is that journalists hardly read, they don’t read their own stories. They don’t sit down to see how their editors turn around their poorly written stories.

“A print journalist requires writing and reading skills and must therefore be a voracious reader, keen listener and consummate writer.”

Imoru therefore, urged media owners and managers to organise language training regularly for journalists. He advised them to also develop a manual that will standardise in-house style to guide writers, adding that the manual should be updated periodically to meet up with prevailing linguistics and media realities.