In journalism, women are more resilient – Florence Oluohu

Florence Oluohu has been the editor of the Cross River State-owned Nigerian Chronicle since 2010. In this interview, she spoke on the challenges of journalism and inadequate training opportunities for journalists, among other things. What background did you bring into journalism? I attended the prestigious Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, where we learnt […]

Florence Oluohu has been the editor of the Cross River State-owned Nigerian Chronicle since 2010. In this interview, she spoke on the challenges of journalism and inadequate training opportunities for journalists, among other things.

What background did you bring into journalism?

I attended the prestigious Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, where we learnt the rudiments from the masters. I remember, among others, Paul Omoighiade, Dayo Ojo, Dupe Singerr, Onoye Beredugo, Tokunbo Onagoruwa, Bayo Fayoyin and, of course, the Baba himself, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande. I have always loved writing, but NIJ honed my skills and laid a solid foundation for the journalist I am today.

After school, I took up appointment with the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the Chronicle group of newspapers, one of the oldest government-owned newspapers in the country still in operation today. I later went to the University of Calabar and obtained another diploma, this time in Public Administration, capping it with a first degree in the same discipline. I also obtained a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communication from the Cross River University of Technology. I believe life is a school and we should pick up knowledge everyday, but journalism adequately paves the way for learning.

How did your experience prepare you for the position of an editor?

I have been privileged to serve in virtually all the units of the editorial department. I was a proofreader at a time when being in that unit was perceived as punitive. I was a subeditor, features writer, features editor, woman editor, and the editor of the weekend title before my elevation to edit the Nigerian Chronicle. 

Wherever I find myself in life, and in the newspaper chain, three key features, which I regard as my personal tripod, always ring loud in my consciousness: hard work, service above self, and strife for excellence. 

Profession-wise, NIJ made fine products out of the raw clay its students were. I was a member of the 1985/87 class, and no one was a pushover. Not one. 

My movements across all sections of the editorial chain shaped and prepared me for what I do today. So, in essence, you can say I came prepared for editorship. But I must not forget the fact that I was also privileged to work with some great bosses. Sometimes, it looked as if they just hated me, dumping so much work on my table, but I believe they must have seen something in me they wished to groom into a masterpiece. I owe them a bouquet of gratitude.

What was it like when you were appointed editor of the newspaper?

When I was first appointed the editor of the Weekend Chronicle, I recalled saying to my boss then, “Oga, you just want to kill me.’’ I had no staff to work with. As a matter of fact, I had no office. I operated from the newsroom for some time, but I did my best. Though the pagination was small, for starters, I felt as though I had been virtually cast into wilderness. 

What are the challenges before a female newspaper editor?

Challenges are second nature in life, but perhaps more so in journalism. But I have never practised journalism, not when I was a reporter and every title in between, in the mould of a female. I have always worked, first and last, as a journalist. The field is genderless, if you ask me. What is a challenge to a male colleague is also a challenge to me. Do I have to weep, wail and wallow in them just because I am a woman? No way! I think the women are even more resilient in the profession. We carry a bigger baggage, yet we move with a grace unprecedented for one so burdened. Perhaps the only time I felt a bit weighed down was when I had my first child. It was tough, but my boss, Mr David Edem, always gave me a soft landing. That, however, was not a privilege I abused. My assigned pages were ready ahead of those handled by most of my male colleagues. I planned my schedule such that I could work at night and in the day time when the baby was asleep. That I became a mother was not an excuse to fail in my profession. 

As a state-owned publication, is the government giving you a free hand to operate?

Working for a state-owned newspaper outfit makes one a child of the government. Our obligation is to espouse the policies and programmes of the state government, and we are doing so creditably. Our relationship with government is good, but we would appreciate a little bit more of care and support because we work in an environment not too conducive. In spite of the shortcomings, we still put in our best. 

The beauty of working for the Cross River State Government is that the much- touted issue of censorship does not arise. No government official has officially hindered us from publishing anything. That is not to deny the existence of self-censorship in the workplace. Some colleagues tilting towards one inclination or another choose to ‘kill’ some news items. This is not an editorial or government policy. I recall once in my reportorial days when I wrote a feature article and felt it was too harsh on some political appointees. I showed it to my boss and, to my surprise, his reaction was: “What did you say is wrong with this?” It was published and no one complained thereafter.

What is your advice to young females who want to be journalists?

I mentor a lot of young journalists who often spend time on internship in the corporation, as well as youth corps members. To the girls, the first advice I usually give is: be as decent as possible. This is because female journalists have been negatively branded for too long. Even if you dress us in the garb of nuns, someone will still tag us prostitutes and women of easy morals, even when they know the truth. So, my advice to them is to let morality rule their behaviours. But in respect of the profession, I am more of a ‘see-me-at-work’ kind of person. There is no idle bone in my body, and when they see me at work, giving all I have to the job, they can be guided as to what path to tread.

What are the innovations you brought to the Chronicle?

For core traditional newspapers like ours, innovations should not be drastic, but I can assure you that the Chronicle of yesterday has undergone tremendous improvement. We have new columns manned by both staff and contributors. Some of our contributors are green horns, but we mentor them, seeing that they have the interest and flair for writing. Overtime, they are getting better and commanding their fair share of readership. I also have a column which, though sometimes difficult to write on account of a tight schedule, is a task I must accomplish. It is called ‘FLOing.’ For now, ours is a regional paper published weekly, but its contents rank favourably with most national newspapers. We believe that the only place to go is forward, irrespective of our challenges.

What needs to be done to improve journalism in Nigeria?

Journalism in Nigeria may not have come of age, but we are not lagging behind either. Be that as it may, I would love to see more training opportunities, both local and foreign, for every Nigerian journalist. For now, such opportunities are often more available to journalists in major towns and cities and those working for the national media. Some journalists stay for as long as 10 years without undergoing training, participating in workshops or seminars. This should not be the case. Also, exposure to the use of more modern gadgets and facilities will hurt no one. It may sound preposterous, but there are many journalists in Nigeria today who cannot operate a computer, not to mention having email accounts, being on the social media or accessing beneficial sites on the internet. Government-owned media outfits should be properly funded and equipped, and salaries of media workers should be paid when due.