AFAS Press trains members on Solution Journalism

By Olanshile Ogunrinu

The Association of Faculty of Arts Students (AFAS) Press Organization on Thursday held a training session for its members on Solutions journalism.

The training was organized as part of the I-79 Media Consult’s Campus Solutions project supported by the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN), which a member of the organization, Olanshile Ogunrinu emerged as one of its campus ambassadors.

Speaking during the training session held on Google Meet, Ifedayo Ogunyemi, the training facilitator, a senior correspondent with Tribune Newspaper and a 2022 LEDE fellow of the SJN, defined Solutions Journalism as the rigorous, evidence-based reporting on the responses to social issues. He introduced the student journalists to the ethics, methods and importance of solutions journalism.

“It is an approach to reporting that focuses attention on not only the problems in the society, but the likely solutions to change them, whether the solution is successful or not, especially in different countries or environment, for those experiencing such to learn from them.

While also explaining the pillars of solutions journalism, he highlighted what cannot be classified as solutions journalism, which includes: Public relation, advocacy, theory among others.

Reacting to the training, Foyin Ejilola, AFAS Press Features Editor said she found the training helpful as a student journalist.

“The facilitator did a great job explaining how storytelling is done in solutions journalism, which is the most important part for me.”

Similarly, Mahbubat Salahudeen, a 100 level student of the department of CLA noted that she learned the intrinsic details of solution reporting, especially during the process of interviewing sources.

“A journalist, during an interview must ask critical questions while paying close attention to the responses received, i.e whether or not the problems on ground are addressed by the response(s).”

Commenting on the training, Olamilekan Mashika, Afas Press Editor-In-Chief said:

“It was a really good training. The facilitator made it enjoyable. I realized from it that journalism isn’t just all about criticizing, and exposing. Writing on how solutions are proffered to the pre-existing problems is also important.”