Unknown to me, my classmate at the department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos who is the Present HOD, Professor Oloruntola Sunday noted my past suggestion about the need for media students to know more of the career journeys of experienced professionals.
This semester, he informed me I should get ready to join him to teach what I have been asking for: a new course titled Media Biographies.
Beyond the theories and the limited practical experiences Mass Communication students get in school, I think there is a lot for them to learn from the invaluable experiences accomplished media professionals share in their Biographies and Autobiographies.
The students will learn a lot from her relatable story of how she ended up reading English after being a science student who wanted to be a medical doctor and lawyer when she changed over to arts.
I can’t wait for the course to commence. I have assembled more that 30 media career biographies from my library the students can choose from to get the relevant knowledge to guide them from the class to the the newsroom and other media work places.
READ ALSO: EXTRA: Thoughts on media career development, By Lekan Otufodunrin
One of the books I am recommending is UNDAUNTED: The Journey & Lessons of 20 Years of Media Practice by Adebisi Adetunji writer, media trainer, Social Behaviour Change Communication professional and award-winning producer with expertise in radio progeamming and content creation.
The students will learn a lot from her relatable story of how she ended up reading English after being a science student who wanted to be a medical doctor and lawyer when she changed over to arts.
More importantly, her impactful broadcasting and communication career from being a youth corps member at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ibadan, apprenticeship days, professional bashing and hardness, Discovering the Art of Storytelling, Winning with Stories, becoming a marketer by force, stumbling into Unknown Opportunities, Changing Lives through Media Advocacy , Working in the media space and Charting a new course vividly relcolected in various chapters offer advance learning to be undaunted as she did in in our dynamic media industry.
UNDAUNTED is a book every GEN Z wanna be journalist, broadcaster, communication expert and new media professional should read.
Mid-career and other practising journalists and broadcasters would also find useful lessons to achieve career goals and aspirations.
