Nigerian journalists should refocus their storytelling to resonate with their audience and ensure that it is relevant to them as the internet continues to disrupt the business of news, Omotola Aderinsola Adebanjo, a frontline Nigerian broadcast journalist and multimedia journalism trainer says.
Adebanjo, who says that people are ready to resonate with news that are relevant to them, advises journalists to focus on news stories that answers the question of: “How does this affect me?”, while speaking on Friday at the Technology Times Think Week 2024 in Lagos.
According to the renowned Nigerian broadcaster and Editor, in the contemporary practice of digital journalism and storytelling for the digital age, news is defined not just by its content, but by the medium by which it is shared and its ability to reach a mass audience effectively.
It is in human nature to gravitate toward conflict, as it is a key driver of news, Adebanjo says. People are always interested in knowing who wins, who loses, and what the consequences are. Whether in politics, tech, or personal disputes, she explains that conflicts capture attention because it evokes strong emotions and creates a narrative that audiences can follow and invest in.
Omotola Aderinsola Adebanjo: People want news that intrigues them
She told the attendees at the Technology Times Think Week 2024 that journalists need to hone skills to identify, pitch and tell impactful stories while maintaining objectivity, balance and credibility.
In today’s digital media landscape, Adebanjo highlights the key elements that qualify a story as newsworthy to include :
Impact: Adebanjo says that people are ready to resonate with news that are relevant to them. News that answers the question: “How does this affect me?”
Timeliness: The time a news is being delivered is important. Adebanjo says that the breaking news today, for an event that happened yesterday, is no longer news. However, she clarifies that old news items can be made interesting by adding additional information or writing from new perspectives.
Proximity: She identifies that news that happens closer to the audience’s location weighs more than that the events that happened in distant places.
Human Interest: These are the news that people want, she says, as they spark curiosity and interest in people. Therefore journalists must find ways to make news interesting and relevant to their audience.
Conflict: It is in human nature to gravitate toward conflict, as it is a key driver of news, Adebanjo says. People are always interested in knowing who wins, who loses, and what the consequences are. Whether in politics, tech, or personal disputes, she explains that conflicts capture attention because it evokes strong emotions and creates a narrative that audiences can follow and invest in.
Bizarre News: People want news that intrigues them, especially those news that are unusual and unexpected.
Celebrity news: News about well-known figures is always in demand. Adebanjo says that “a celebrity must cut across demographics,” citing examples to describe how stories about public figures gain traction.
Who to Write for: “Everybody is not an audience,” Adebanjo says, advising journalists that knowing who you are writing for is very important in writing a story as it helps shape the storyteller’s thoughts when writing.
“In a world where media consumption habits shape the future of information and news, African media outlets have recognised that the youth is no longer a niche market but the primary audience,” Adebanjo says, explaining that for most news outlets in Nigeria, the youths are now the target audience.
According to her, as the world is shifting from the traditional media to the social media, it is important for journalists to create content that resonates with people and tell their stories effectively.
According to her, what makes journalists special is not that they are the only ones that have the story, but that they are professionals that know how to tell the stories.
Creating a pitch for a story
The multimedia journalism trainer explains that a pitch gives a story direction as it helps the storyteller understand what they intend to write about, and saves them time during the preparation and writing process.
According to Adebanjo, the important things to note when creating a pitch include:
Clarifying what the story is about.
Asking why the story is important.
Researching on previous information regarding the subject and what more to add.
Identifying the voices in the story i.e ‘The who’,
Knowing the medium(s) to use e.g print, audio, audio-visual.
Setting the time to deliver the story.
How do you conduct an Interview?
Adebanjo explains that interviews are vital tools for telling compelling stories. To conduct an effective interview, she says that the interviewer should focus on the following:
Research: Conducting thorough background checks on the interviewee and the subject matter is essential for preparation.
Avoiding open-ended questions: This means steering clear of questions that can be answered with a single word, for example ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
Listening attentively: Paying close attention is crucial, as the interviewee might provide valuable insights during the conversation.
Keeping questions detailed: Ensuring questions are clear and precise is important. Adebanjo explains that asking two questions simultaneously should be avoided to maintain focus and clarity.
Additionally, she underscores the importance of maintaining eye contact with the interviewee, staying aware of their mood and body language, and not being thrown off by a particularly clever interviewee.
She explains that these elements and skills contribute significantly to building rapport and conducting an effective interview.
The art of camera angles in storytelling
The art, according to Adebanjo, is a crucial element in storytelling, particularly when using multimedia formats. It is essential to master the skill of handling a camera, ensuring the angles, settings, and lighting are appropriate for effectively conveying any type of narrative.
Camera angles, Adebanjo says, play a significant role in storytelling as they determine the perspective from which the audience views the subject. Different angles can evoke various emotions and enhance the overall storytelling experience.
While discussing the use of video in narratives, Adebanjo refocuses the importance of journalists understanding key principles of white balance in the camera, using the correct lenses, conducting sound checks, and ensuring the camera captures the right audio for clear communication.
She also emphasises the necessity of using a tripod and varying camera angles to maintain audience engagement throughout the storytelling process noting that “storytelling is like a movie; your visuals must sustain audience interest.”
Regarding the concept of “A Piece to Camera”, which involves presenting the story in person, Adebanjo explains the importance of collaboration between the journalist and the cameraman. Creativity and imagination should be the watchword while staying true to the story’s essence. Selecting an appropriate background, dressing professionally, and scripting thoughts beforehand are recommended best practices to enhance the storytelling process.
Furthermore, conducting a dry run and recording it, gathering thoughts before going live, minimising stuttering, and incorporating props to enrich the narrative are additional tips provided by Adebanjo. When delivering multiple pieces to camera in a report, selecting a cohesive theme and rehearsing in front of a rolling camera are essential steps to ensure a polished presentation.
Adebanjo advises journalists at the Technology Times Think Week 2024 to be socially-responsible and report on events that occur in the society. This responsibility also involves simplifying complex stories so they can be easily understood and appreciated by their audience and the public.
“It is not really the difficult, the complex stories we do that appeal to people. It is the simple stories that we break down and people can relate to,” Adebanjo says.
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