By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
The Chairman Bauchi State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mahmud Yakubu Mohammad has emphasize the need for professionalism on the part of media practitioners in reporting sport activities.
Mohammed reiterated this stand during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Bauchi week, which commenced with a workshop on Sports Coverage and Reporting Skills in the Mass Media for Sports Writers held at the NUJ Press center Bauchi on Monday,
He said the SWAN week is to promote cordial relationship among media practitioners through sports, and to use as an avenue for relaxation.
“Journalists work round the clock without taking time off to exercise, so the week will give them the opportunity to participate in games of their choice”.
“We have journalists who love Sports and lack the required skills to report each sporting activity according to its peculiarity, thus the training will enhance their knowledge since sports is a specialised beat.”
He said that the association will be introduce regular trainings for sport writers in the state to keep them abreast with trends in the sporting world as well as enhancing their reporting skills in sports.
“Exercise is important to stay healthy as it enhances the physical well being of individuals and promotes mental and psychological health.”
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, Comrade Umar Sa’idu said that sports is a unifying factor, noting that the week will give media practitioners to meet and interact with each other.
He commended media organizations in the state for promoting sport activities through their reportage and encouraged them sustain the tempo.
Also speaking, the North-East Zonal Vice President of SWAN, Jibo Zakari urged journalists to ensure they report sports base on the ethics and guidelines.
Represented by the North-East Zonal Secretary of SWAN, Nasiru Abdullahi Kobi said the week will offer Bauchi the chance to come up with a team that will participate in the forthcoming North-East SWAN zonal competition that is out to unite media practitioners in the zone.
Director Press, Government House Bauchi, Suleiman Alhassan Dambam commended SWAN Bauchi for bringing up journalists to be in tune with sports reporting.
