IBADAN – Members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State Chapter have been enjoined to regularly update their knowledge in sports writing in this digital age.
Mr Kehinde Olaosebikan, a veteran journalist and former Chief Press Secretary to former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina, made the passionate appeal on Wednesday.
He was speaking at a workshop organised by Oyo SWAN executive led by Niyi Alebiosu, at the Indoor Sports hall of the Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan. The theme of the workshop is “Towards Professionalism And Vibrancy In Sports Journalism.”
Olaosebikan, also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, described the theme as very “germane” to the course of sports writing, saying in this digital age, sports writers must be creative and dynamic.
According to him, “We should be more resourceful and creative and operate within the law. If you update yourself regularly, you will be above your peers.”
Presenting a paper on “Ethics of Sports Journalism”, the South- West Zonal Director of the National Broadcasting Commission, Ms Olajumoke Coker, condemned what she described as “unprofessional style of presentation” on radio and television.
She said the commission would continue to sanction organizations that feature presenters who have turned to advertisers while presenting sports programme.
According to her, a sports presenter must shun praise singing of sponsors during programme.
She whoever stressed that the NBC was not against giving ‘end credit’ to sponsors at the end of a programme, insisting “We should aim towards professionalism”.
Also, Mr Biodun Ilori, the CEO of Abbey Live Network, based in London, took the sports writers through Digitalization, ICT and Sports Journalism.
Ilori, a digital expert charged participants to embrace digital journalism if they really want to make meaningful impact and live a decent life, saying “If you are not digital, you are not there yet.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman Oyo SWAN, Niyi Alebiosu, expressed optimism that the workshop would boost the capacity of sports writers in the state.
Speaking, the Chairman of Workshop Organising Committee, Femi Okenla, said the workshop was borne out of the need to organise training and retraining for members.
He urged SWAN members present to pick something useful back to their desk at the end of the workshop.
Other guests present at the workshop were: former Shooting Stars FC chairman, Elder Bode Oyewole, veteran sports journalist, Mr Ade Somefun and representative of the Commissioner for Youth and Sports.
