PREMIUM TIMES CENTRE FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM (PTCIJ) TRAINS 45 AE-FUNAI STUDENTS
The Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), Abuja, has trained about 45 students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State in investigative journalism, ethics of journalism and the use of technology in journalism through their Campus Reporter Project.

The PTCI is a non-governmental organization founded in 2014, to promote a truly independent media landscape that advances fundamental human rights, good governance and accountability in West Africa through investigative journalism, open data and civic technology.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom, principal officers, some staff of Mass Communication Dept and PTCIJ team in a group photograph with some of the students
The Campus Reporter Project was launched in 2017 to develop the ethical practice and technology skills of campus journalists as a means of exposing them to the real-life demands of the journalism profession. Through the project, trained students become part of PTCIJ’s Next-Gen Programme, where they will undergo a long-term capacity building code-named TIM which stands for Training-Internship-Mentorship.



Speaking during a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the University,Prof. Sunday Elom, the PTCIJ Coordinator of Campus Reporter Project and Program Manager, Humanitarian Affairs, Mrs. Busola Ajibola said the 3-day clinic is focused on equipping the next generation of Journalists with the digital and technological skills they require to thrive in newsrooms in Nigeria and beyond.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom receiving some Premium Times publications during the visit
She explained that the clinic aims at exposing campus journalists to the ethical consideration required for the practice of journalism, adding that the Campus Reporter Project supports and encourages campus journalists to practice evidence-based journalism anchored on the principle verification, integrity and discipline.



Mrs. Ajibola further pointed out that students would also be taken through a mentorship process where they would be taught by veterans and Professional journalists, adding that they are also expected to showcase their newly acquired reporting skill by publishing on Campus Reporter Website, a platform dedicated to campus journalists. Some of the students that are promising, according to her, would be offered internship opportunities where they will be assigned to leading newsrooms across Nigeria.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom (5th L) and principal Officers in a group photograph with the PTCIJ led by Mrs. Busola Ajibola (4th L)
While welcoming the PTCIJ team to the University, Prof. Elom thanked the Management of Premium Times, especially the Executive Director, Dapo Olorunyoni, for choosing the University as one of the beneficiaries of their campus journalism clinic.



The Vice-Chancellor who was visibly elated noted that the training would make positive impact in the lives of the students, adding that such a professional training would also prepare the benefiting-students for the future.

He also reiterated the commitment of his administration to grooming students that would be employable and globally-competitive on graduation by imbuing them with the necessary knowledge and skills.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom, principal officers, some staff of Mass Communication Dept and PTCIJ team in a group photograph with some of the students
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Head, Department of Mass communication, Dr Vincent Odoh, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for approving the training, noting that it gives the students the opportunity of meeting and interacting with professionals in the field of journalism.



The training programme which was held from Tuesday, 21st to Friday, 24th September, 2021 at the Needs Assessment Building, took the students through the rudiments of Investigative Journalism and the importance of in-depth research before publication. It also highlighted the difference between a reporter and a journalist, explaining that a reporter’s job is to relay the story to the public while a journalist’s job is to research new stories. It further identified the qualities of a professional journalist to include investigative skills, effective communication, professionalism, confidence, public accountability and discipline. More importantly, it also exposed the students to ways of developing contents for the social media.