I want to care less about what people say or think of me- Adaeze Amos, Media Consultant

‘Put journalism aside, governance will make no meaning’

Story By: Pamela Jerome Ene

Call her a journalist, you are right. Or better still a Media Consultant you are in order. Welcome to the world of ADAEZE AMOS, the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Audacious Ventures Limited, a Media Consulting Company. Ada as she is fondly called by her friends and fans is a wife, mother of three, a fashionista and an interesting personality who loves to unwind with good and decent-minded people. In this interview Pamela Joreme Ene, she talks about her profession as a journalist, her dress sense and lifestyle

Excerpts:

Can we step into your world?

Sure you are welcome on board  into my interesting world. I used to be  a Woman Editor of  two different national dailies for years.  I’m blogger and a journalist. I have been in journalism for upwards  two decades. I bagged a degree  in History from Imo State University now Abia State University, Uturu Campus. I started Journalism in 1996 with Punch Nigeria Limited as a Staff Writer.  I was a member of  staff in  Punch for 12 years and I opted out as a Chief Correspondent. I then joined  National Life Newspaper where I became the Woman Editor. I was in National Life Newspaper for four years before I later joined National Mirror Newspaper also as a Woman and Lifestyle Editor. Presently I have  my own establishment where I am strictly into media consulting.

‘My profession as a journalist enables me to unwind even as I  work’

What are you currently doing for now?

I’m the CEO of Audacious Ventures Limited. This honestly keeps me busy aside from running my blog. I’m also into media consulting and I sell fashion accessories on line.

You are so passionate about Journalism. Why did you choose the profession?

Yes, I’m passionate about Journalism despite its numerous challenges. Journalism is a noble profession. It is one profession that a reasonable government cannot do without because of its capability of keeping members of the public abreast of government activities.  In my own words, if you put journalism aside, governance will make no sense. Journalism gives you room to meet creme de la cream of the society, it launches you out to the world and takes you to places of interest. And while doing your job as a journalist, you always bear it in mind that you are guided by ethics and laws so that you don’t dish out biased  information to people or scandalous information about a person to the members of the  public.

To answer your question on why I chose the profession.This  very profession  gives me joy!  You are unwinding even when you are working. It gives you room to attend big events/parties while searching for your scoops, it enables you  meet great people, interview them and sometimes  learn from their stories, challenges and success in life. Don’t also forget that with you Identity card, doors are thrown open at you for you to get in and do your job. So, my profession as a journalist enables me to unwind even while I work.

Apart from journalism, what other things are you good at?

I’m good at designing what I wear. My style is classic and I don’t follow vogue. It may not be  outrageously expensive but I ensure my dress sense is in order. My style is not revealing. I hate to flaunt what ought to be covered. I try to blend my colours well. I love sharp and feminine colours such as purple, red, blue, peach, burgundy, lilac to mention but a few. But my favourite colour is red followed by purple. So,  give me colour red any day and I’m good to go.

So, aside from journalism, fashion designing is what I do. And I have taken this to the next level where I design for friends and clients and have their clothes delivered to them. I’m also into the selling of sample fabrics. All these I do mostly on line which is a great market now.

What are your experiences in journalism?

There are some good experiences which I cherish till date. Some good friends and great contacts I have been able to build up. You know what makes a good journalist is having contacts of great people or ‘grade A’ personalities so to say  who would sell your paper and bring adverts to the company.Even in the world of politics, health, business, telecom, showbiz just name it, your contacts or people you know are of great importance in the world of journalism. And this depends on your beat. You should be able to know people that would make readers look forward to reading you. This is what gladdens my heart because I use my contacts till date. I call some of them and they still render help when necessary.

Any regret about being a journalist?

I don’t have regrets being a journalist. Reason is that I always know that every profession has its challenges. So, the challenges I had even while I was growing my profession has never made me nurse any feeling of regret. Rather those challenges  made me stronger, taught me some  big lessons and I was able to  forge ahead. So, I would say that I have always enjoyed my work as a journalist. The headlines and deadlines do help to keep me on my toes. Those Monday meetings where you would attend with your story ideas which you would defend before you colleagues and your boss and at times they are dismissed and you are left with nothing but to fetch new story ideas.If I remember those times  I just laugh. So, why should I regret being in a profession that makes you read and read not getting tired? Reason is that as you read everything readable, what you always have at the back of your mind is how to make a good and  publishable  story out of what you are reading. It is a profession that keeps you cracking your brains on story ideas every time. As you are submitting your pages for publication, you are thinking of what to write for the next edition.

Are journalists pulling much weight compared to before?

I think they are trying but I must say that a lot of things have contributed in watering down the weight of journalists  here in our country. Non-payment of salaries, not paying salaries as at when due, poor salaries, brown envelop syndrome have really watered down the power of journalists. When salaries are not paid at all, a journalist is tempted to accept some monetary favours to submit unbalanced stories. Journalists are faced with so much insecurity that sometimes they are harassed with impunity, some are beaten up, molested and their working tools forcefully taken from them.

How do you give back to the society?

I give back to the society in my own little way by being a voice to the voiceless.  Using my profession as a journalist to reach out to people who would be of much help to the helpless and hapless.

How do you cope with your profession as a journalist and your home front?

I’m able to cope because I’m married to a good man who understands and  respects my profession. Even when I carry my work home, he doesn’t complain much. Then of course I have three grown up children who also love what I do. At times when my two  daughters are less busy, they  do help me transcribe my stories if the work load is much.

Will one of your children take after you as a journalist?

Well I think my two daughters may not delve into journalism per say but in future, they are looking at buying airtime on radio and television and talk about issues pertaining to what they studied. I'm talking about talk shows.  My first daughter who is a medical doctor says she wouldn’t mind having a health show where health issues can be talked about. Then my second daughter who is a  Lawyer in the making says she would toe same line where issues about human rights can be discussed. Then my son a Civil Engineer does not have time for all that. He has no interest in journalism.

What is your take on Nigerian women in journalism?

In the days of yore, women were nowhere to be found in the practice of journalism in Nigeria. Increase in global agitation for gender equality and empowerment in all sector led to changes in gender role in journalism practice as more women oriented stories started appearing in Nigeria newspapers of the early 50s. Traditionally, women have been involved in different trade and profession from time immemorial. For journalism, women role cannot be wished away. From humble beginning, women have risen through the rank of being reporters to top management positions in both prints and broadcast industries.  Nigerian women journalists are good, very good I must say.

What is fashion and what does it mean to you?

 To put it in simple words, fashion is basically the style of wearing clothes, accessories and ornaments according to the ruling trends or one's own individual preferences. Fashion, in essence, is the art of transforming a simple attire into one of elegance. Fashion, to me, represents life. When I wear something that makes me feel more creative, more interesting, stronger, complicated — that’s when I feel the most alive, the most engaged with the world. Changing my wardrobe is the quickest route to feeling like everything is new again, that anything is possible. So the purpose of fashion is to make you feel alive and present. I hate it when people get too philosophical about fashion, but this really is the truth!

Fashion is a tease, it brings joy really.That is the purpose of fashion for me. The joy of wearing something that makes you feel powerful or beautiful or in control.The joy of seeing a fashion show so beautiful that it turns you into a wide-eyed eight-year-old. The joy of buying something you dream about, or giving that to someone else. The joy of the new. It’s not about feeling less than — less cool, less rich, less skinny (as I know fashion can so often do). It’s about what makes you feel better. Fashion celebrates women.Fashion is about storytelling through clothing; it’s about the stories behind them and the ones you create around them. It’s a cultural influence, backstory or intellectual touch point that you can trace back to what you’re wearing. We use it to escape the mundane, to embrace and celebrate tradition. It’s about a sense of history and pride and it embodies a greater sense of purpose than just a garment tossed on to cover bodies.

What is your style?

Style is expressing yourself through what you wear.  Style is defined as a particular way of doing or saying something, or refers to a unique form of clothing or way of arranging your appearance. Style is personal. So, my own style is classic, simple with a touch of elegance.

What are the effects of advent of social media on journalism?

It is incredible to see how the media has been transformed through technology. This change is unlike back in the days when you would be waiting for news  to get the top headlines from around the world. In the digital age, you find people using their phones more frequently. Through tech devices and social media, users have access to news bits across different platforms, more instantaneously than ever.

The digital era has introduced an instantaneous way of accessing news through news snippets on social media. This means at every second there are multiple news channels on all various social sites providing users with instant news feeds.

In the digital era, the news is not limited to print publications or recorded TV broadcasts as people have access to tech devices that allow access. Reporters can now report live to audiences and notify their followers, which gives them real-time coverage.

Greatest Regret?

I have no regrets whatsoever but I would say that if I have to change anything about myself it would be changing the zeal or fears  I have  about what people think and say about me. I actually want to careless about what people say. But you see, the more I try, the less I’m able to switch into that mode.