Ms Osen Attah, a versatile broadcast journalist with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Abuja, bares her mind to INTEGRATIVE RUMINATIONS, an enlightening online programme, on the role of broadcast journalism in uplifting the mood of the society
excerpts:
Why did you choose broadcast journalism as a career?
Broadcasting chose me. I didn’t study anything related to broadcasting. The job came and I was saddled with the responsibility of keeping up with it. The job came with a passion for me and overtime I accepted that it is a part of me. I grew up watching NTA and listening to radio with my parents. It kind of modelled my choice of career later on in life although I didn’t study it. I noticed that it was in me already and I always wanted to express myself about anything s a human being and I wanted to be the mouthpiece of the voiceless. I wanted to be like Eugenia Abu, Ruth Benamesia- Opia and Cyril Stober. I am sure you can relate. These people have been part of my childhood. They have been part of my growing up.
I remember I used to sit in front of a mirror reading newspapers to myself and mentioning my name like I was a broadcaster. I used to sit with my dad, listening to ‘Sunday Sunday tonic’, NEWSLINE with Frank Olize and how he used to tell those stories like he was part of the story. It was always a thrill for me and as soon as I got the opportunity to get into broadcasting, I quickly grabbed it.
Can you talk about your Parents?
My mum is a nurse. My dad is an engineer, in a family of five, four girls and a boy and my father would always insist on his kids coming out the best. He never would subscribe to mediocrity and he would always insist that we read novels, read newspapers. I don’t think I was 10 yet when my dad would bring newspapers and ask us to read to his hearing and when we stumble on any word that is new , he would say, ‘’what’s that?’ ‘Pronounce that I want to hear it’. That actually shaped my growing up and brought me into broadcasting. I am grateful for it.
Can you share the story of your career, from where you started broadcasting and where you are now?
It all started when I got the job and I was saddled with the responsibility of keeping up with being a broadcaster. When challenges come, I am not the type of person who runs away from challenges . I accept them . I always believe I can do anything as long as there is someone available to put me through and tell me how to do it. I am always available to learn. So, it’s been a learning process for me and here we are today .
If you had to do it all over , will you still choose broadcast journalism?
I will choose to be a broadcast journalist for so many reasons. I like being a voice to many out there. I like being able to express yourself and not just that, being able to touch someone’s life. There are sometimes you run a show and you don’t know whose life you are impacting. You don’t know who you are speaking to. I believe that the broadcaster pierces the heart of someone who is in dire need. That is the need that the broadcaster fills.
In what ways do you use that voice?
I am a youthful and broadminded broadcaster and I believe that there is a connection between me and the listener out there. It all starts and ends with your style of presentation and also your mode of communication. I try as much as possible to play with the contents. It is very important especially when you have the content of ‘the now and content of the later’. You never know when and who you are appealing to.
As much as possible, I try to have fun on my show too. I ensure that for every time that I am on, every moment that I am in that studio, I try to make it count. Every time that I am talking in the studio, there is something that people pick from me. I am not actually teaching my listener or my viewer because I am not much of an expert. It is still a learning process for me but I am not pontificating or being judgemental at that moment. All I do is just trying to ensure that there is something for somebody to take home. I try to put a smile on the face of whoever is listening to me or whoever is watching me because this is like a sort of reminder to people who are listening. More often than not there’s not much to things that people have not heard or seen but it’s just like a kind of reminder to let them know. For instance, if I am on a morning show, I am supposed to motivate somebody . Some people wake up and they don’t feel like going to work. I tell them that of course you can be a better person.