PUNCH hosts communication scholars ahead of 2024 conference
The Management of PUNCH Nigeria Limited played host to members of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria on Wednesday at the newspaper’s head office in the Magboro area of Ogun State.
The team was received by PUNCH General Manager, Digital and Publications, Mr Ademola Oni, who was in the company of the Acting Editor, The PUNCH, Mr Tunji Abioye; the Digital Editor, Mr Olalekan Adetayo; and the Acting Weekend Titles Editor, Mr Samson Folarin.
The visitors were led by the South-West Vice President of the ACSPN, Prof Rotimi Olatunji, a former Dean of the School of Communication Studies at the Lagos State University.
Others in the team were a former Saturday PUNCH Editor, Dr Olabisi Deji-Folutile; the Public Relations Officer of ACSPN, Mr Lanre Arogundade; Dr Ganiu Okunnu; Dr Taiwo Thanny; and Dr Yinka Oyegbile.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Olatunji said the ACSPN is the first association that marries the gown and the town, combining the theory acquired in the classroom with on-the-job practicals.
According to him, the visit was to formally inform PUNCH of the association’s forthcoming 11th annual conference slated for September 4 and 5 at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, seeking the support of the media organisation.
The association also appealed to the newspaper to register with it as a corporate member, saying there are lots of benefits in doing so.
Speaking more about the conference, themed, ‘Digital Communication and Governance in Africa’, Deji-Folutile disclosed that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, would declare the event open, while the Publisher of Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi, would deliver the keynote address.
Deji-Folutile noted that the conference would host various syndicate sessions and masterclasses to discuss digital communication, governance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, current trends in journalism/media studies, and other important topics in today’s global setting.
The association added that no fewer than 500 participants are being expected at the gathering.
During an interactive session, the host and the visitors stressed the need for collaboration between academics and professionals in the field.
They highlighted the importance of bringing practising journalists into the classroom to teach the younger ones the rudiments of the profession, lamenting the wide gap between the classroom and the newsroom.
The PUNCH Digital and Publication GM also called for a review of the curriculum and a reduction of the number of courses students take each semester, in line with global best practices.
Oni also emphasised the importance of data analysis as a course for Mass Communication students.
