Tuesday 14 November 2017

Phillip Jakpor: Journalists bear potential to change the world

At the end of September 2017 we had a chance to host a brilliant guest here in Slovakia, whom we could invite thanks to our Finnish partner organisation VIKES. The Nigerian environmental journalist and activist Phillip Jakpor paid his visit to Central Europe, accompanied by the Media4Development project coordinator from Finland, Riikka Seppala. They attended two events the Slovak NGDO Platform organised for both, pre-service and in-service journalists.

At first, our guests visited Department of journalism at the Comenius University in Bratislava where Phillip presented his story of an investigative environmental journalist in the global South country, the story of environmental challenges being uncovered in spite of the interests of powerful people and groups in his country. Phillip was able, thanks to his rhetoric, to catch attention of at least 50 - 60 future journalists and their teachers. Students used opportunity to ask him questions and were interested in what was his most valuable investigative story or if Nigerian women work as journalists.

The next day we organised event dedicated especially to professional journalists who already work in various newspapers and media outlets here in Slovakia. Phillip met them, not only to present his story again, but also to do some networking and discuss professional issues while having rich Slovak breakfast with fine fair trade coffee.

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