A public spat between Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Relations and New Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni has sparked widespread discussion over what qualifies an individual to be called a journalist.
During an Arise Television interview, the verbal exchange occurred during a public discourse where Olayinka openly questioned Oseni’s academic background and professional credibility in journalism.
“Oseni Rufai, you studied Animal Anatomy, and you are on Arise as an on-air personality. You cannot face me and call yourself a journalist. I wouldn’t agree with you because you didn’t study journalism,” Olayinka said, suggesting that academic qualifications in journalism are essential for credibility in the field.
Rufai Oseni, a prominent broadcast journalist with Arise News, swiftly defended his credentials, stressing that journalism is a broad field that embraces professionals from various educational backgrounds. He emphasized his experience and professional training in the media industry.
“For your education, it’s obvious you don’t even know that journalism is broad and there is a need for a lot of education, that there is multi-disciplines in journalism. I have also done a lot of work and training in this business, having been a journalist for over 20 years,” Oseni replied.
The incident has ignited a debate on social media platforms, with users divided over the relevance of formal education versus practical experience in journalism. While some commentators aligned with Olayinka’s view that academic qualifications lend credibility to the profession, others supported Oseni’s argument that hands-on experience and continuous professional development are equally, if not more important.
Explore More News By Using The Button Below.
