By Onwa Ekor
The General Manager of Cross River Newspaper Corporation, Ms Keyu Edet, has called on students of the newly unbundled Department of Journalism and media studies in the University of Calabar, to study hard and always be guided by the ethics of the profession.
Edet gave the advise when she received the departmental head, lecturers and students representatives, who paid her a courtesy visit at the premises of the newspaper house in Calabar.
Represented by the Editor, Oka Ibor, she charged the students to take advantage of the services provided by the over 55 years newspaper house in the state to equip themselves professionally and always be guided by the ethics of the profession, if they must play their roles well as watchdogs of the society.
“We are a family and will always be glad to partner with you especially when one considers that outside the mandate of the newspaper corporation which is anchored on news making, the media outfit also trains students.
“A lot of staff here gained employment into this outfit through their efforts and dexterity while serving here as industrial attachees, so you need to work hard in order to achieve such feats,” She advised.
The state media outfit boss further enjoined the students to take their studies seriously, stay away from social vices while adhering to the code of conduct of the academic institution.
Earlier, the Acting Head of Department, Dr Kwita Dan-Obo, informed that her team were in the Newspaper House to build partnership as the department stands to benefit from such development.
“We cannot have a Department of Journalism and media studies in the University here, and don’t have a relationship with a leading print media outfit in the state, which is the publisher of the Nigerian and Weekend Chronicle newspapers.
“We will always come to you for help and to develop the synergy because the department and newspaper house must flourish in unison,” Dan-Obo said.
Also commenting, a lecturer in the department and veteran Journalist, Dr. Jude Okoro, appealed for consideration to be offered students to visit the premises, engage with practising journalists in order to gain practical knowledge of the profession.
Okoro also hinted that plans are at advanced stage for the department to organise refresher training for students journalists on modern ways of writing news.
Among those present at the visit were Dr Effiong Okon, Mrs Omari Ogri, John Asuquo and Adeboro Oyinkansola.
