PUNCH journalist Adetutu Sobowale has won the maiden Reporter Slam Nigeria contest, sharing her experience of the pressures journalists face when reporting breaking news in the digital age.
Sobowale emerged winner at the event held on Wednesday at Alliance Française, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, where journalists competed through storytelling and personal accounts of their professional experiences.
The contest, themed “Journalism and the Nigerian Story,” was organised in collaboration with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Nigeria. It brought together media executives, journalists, broadcasters, journalism educators and campus journalists.
Journalist Recounts Experience of Being Labelled Fake News
Sobowale’s winning presentation centred on an experience she described as traumatic, following her report on a sensitive development involving Nigeria’s relations with the United Arab Emirates.
She recounted how a post disclosing the development, published by a spokesperson for a high-ranking elected government official, was deleted after she had reported the information. The aide subsequently labelled the report fake news.
The experience left her embarrassed and concerned about the professional consequences of reporting information that was later disputed, despite her background in fact-checking.
Speaking after her victory, Sobowale said the incident had stayed with her because of her experience scrutinising claims and verifying information as a fact-checker.
“Actually, that story traumatised me. You know why? I am a fact-checker, I wrote a story, a breaking news and it was a big story, then all of a sudden it was tagged fake,” she said.
Sobowale Celebrates Recognition
The journalist said she was excited by the recognition but had initially felt uncertain about speaking before an audience, having spent much of her professional life writing rather than presenting her experiences publicly.
“I’m confused at the same time, excited, because I was not expecting this. I’ve never spoken like this before. I am always typing, writing, but now I have to talk to the crowd, and there are people to judge me,” she said.
She added that the victory had given her greater confidence to share personal experiences, particularly those that other journalists could relate to.
“It means a lot. Now I know that I can go out there to tell my story and it will resonate with people because I know a lot of people are also going through that,” she said.
‘There is a Story Behind Every Byline’
Sobowale encouraged journalists to share the personal experiences behind their reports, noting that the work of journalism extends beyond published headlines and bylines.
“Let people know that you have a story behind that byline, behind the headline. There is a lot more to writing a story. So we need to come out and tell people our story so that they will see the value in what we do,” she said.
She also acknowledged PUNCH for its role in her professional growth, expressing gratitude to the newspaper for the opportunities and experience she had gained.
“PUNCH made me. I thank PUNCH,” she said.
Sobowale to Represent Nigeria at Reporter Slam Africa
The event was attended by the former General Manager of Human Capital and Corporate Services at PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Mrs Folake Gbemutor; the Head of PUNCH Digital Advertising, Mrs Mary Stanley-Ubani; members of the University of Lagos Press Club; and other media practitioners.
Following her victory, Sobowale is expected to represent Nigeria at Reporter Slam Africa, where she will share her story with a wider audience.
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