Stakeholders emphasize need for journalists to Prioritize Well-being

Media practitioners have been urged to prioritise their physical, mental and visual health while carrying out their assignments.

The General Manager of Radio Nigeria Progress FM, Dr. Adebola Agbaje gave the advice during a public lecture and award ceremony.

The event which was organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Progress FM Chapel, Ado-Ekiti, with the theme, “Media Practitioners Beyond Writing and Speaking: Protecting the Sight” and a sub-theme “Visual Health of Journalists in a Busy Schedule”

Dr. Agbaje, said journalism extends beyond informing, educating and entertaining the public, stressing that media professionals must also learn to protect themselves while serving society.

“When we make people happy in the newsroom, who makes us happy after we leave” she urged journalists to pay attention to their welfare and emotional wellbeing.

She identified irregular working hours, increasing competition in the media industry, financial challenges, poor welfare packages, security threats, work-life imbalance, inadequate technological knowledge and lack of commitment as major challenges confronting media practitioners.

According to her, journalists often sacrifice weekends, public holidays and family time in pursuit of breaking news and meeting deadlines, thereby weakening family relationships and increasing stress levels.

She recommended effective time management, proper budgeting, self-care, continuous professional development and stronger institutional support as strategies for improving journalists’ wellbeing and productivity.

Dr. Agbaje however encouraged journalists to uphold professionalism despite the rise of citizen journalism and social media reporting.

Also speaking, a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, Professor Olusola Joseph Omotoye, who delivered lecture on maintaining healthy vision among media professionals, advised them to adopt healthy eye-care habits, seek prompt medical attention for visual problems and avoid practices capable of damaging eyesight.

Professor Omotoye who identified social effects of blindness to include isolation, difficulty in learning, loss of privacy, dependency and economic loss, urged them to desist from any actions that could make the eyes go blind.

He said major causes of blindness were preventable, treatable or curable but late presentation for treatment were obstacles.

The ophthalmologist also enjoined the participants to avoid application of harmful substances such as urine, breast milk and sugar water to avoid blindness.

In his remark, the Ekiti State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi urged journalists to uphold integrity and professionalism just as he commended the FRCN chapel for organising such an educative programme.

Also, the State Coordinator of the National Youth Congress, Comrade Temitope Adedara described journalists as critical stakeholders essential to the growth and development of any society, calling for better remuneration for them.

Earlier, the NUJ, Progress fm chapel, Comrade Adefunke Adeigba said the lecture was organised to educate journalists and reawaken their consciousness to the importance of healthy living.

Contributing, the Head of Mass Communication Department, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Mrs Oluwaseun Lawrence tasked the students to take the lecture seriously as it would help in their career.

One of the awardees, Founder of Heartwood Humanitarian Foundation Mr. Adebayo Oni Martins represented by his mother, Mrs Eunice Oni Adebayo who was awarded community developer, appreciated Progress FM for honouring him and promised continuous selfless service to humanity.

By Alli Maryam