By Idris Katib
Crescent University, Abeokuta has pioneered a campaign to incorporate Solutions Journalism (SoJo) in mass communication curriculum in Nigeria.
The institution which prides itself as citadel of academic and moral excellence in a workshop for media educators in Ogun State tagged “Mainstreaming Solutions Journalism into Media Education and practice”, scholars conceded that regulators of education such as National Universities Commission (NUC) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) should be lobbied to incorporate Solutions Journalism in mass communication curriculum.
The workshop which had six higher institutions in Ogun State participating, was held in the Department of Mass Communication, Crescent University, Abeokuta in conjunction with Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) and facilitated by a lecturer in the Department, Mr Jamiu Folarin who is also a Fellow of SJN.
In her presentation themed “Solutions Journalism 101, another Fellow of Solutions Journalism Network, Seun Durojaye defined Solutions Journalism as an evidence- based reporting to solve social problems, emphasising that Solutions Journalism helps to tell a complete and balanced story. She maintained that “for you to a have a solutions journalism, there has to be a solution that tackles a problem.
“Solutions Journalism covers a response to a challenge and how it happened. It provides evidence of impact, looking at effectiveness, not just intentions. In Solutions Journalism, there must be limitations which should be expressed”, she explained.
Durotoye identified some of the benefits of Solutions Journalism as holding leaders accountable, civil engagement and cross-pollination of ideas where communities would learn about development elsewhere which will eventually spark discussion and action.
In his goodwill message, Mr Chibuike Alagboso of Nigeria Health Watch corroborated that “SoJo is a strategy that will re-orientate the next generation of journalists to be able to compete with their counterparts globally”.
In her contributions via Zoom, Director of Journalism Partnerships, New York, Francine Huff emphasized the essence of curriculum building with the inclusion of elements of Solutions Journalism.
Sharing his perspective, Head of Department of Mass Communication, Crescent University, Dr. Kola Adesina said Solutions Journalism which is an offshoot of Development Communication and Social Responsibility Theory, is not adversarial.
He however proposed 5Ws and what he termed “the context”, which according to him should be well expanded to cover who, what, where, when, why and how an event happened, adding that SoJo should not be assumed as a one-size-fits-all to all situations and contexts.
Other scholars like Head of Department of Mass Communication, Olabisi Onabanjo, Ago-Iwoye, Dr Dele Odunlami and Head of Department of Mass Communication, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Dr (Mrs) Funmi Alakija agreed that SoJo as an essential part of Development Journalism would help in training and retraining journalists in social responsibility.
The workshop witnessed participants from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Crawford University, Igbesa, Crescent University, Abeokuta, MCPherson University, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta.
Scholars conceded that courses like News writing and reporting, Data Journalism, Precision Journalism, Specialist Journalism, Reporting Religion, Writing for Broadcast, Digital Journalism, Conflict Reporting, Communication and National Development, Feature writing and others should accommodate Solutions Journalism with creativity on the part of the educators.
