
02/09/2025
A Single Answer to Hundreds of Reactions: Why a Broadcaster is Not a Journalist | Olabode Makinwa
A week ago, I made a simple but firm statement: a broadcaster is not a journalist. That piece has since generated hundreds of reactions, comments, debates, and even criticisms. I have read many of them with keen interest, and I appreciate the passion people have shown. But let me be clear: my submission was never ambiguous. My position is solid and remains unchanged.
Journalism is not about holding a microphone. Journalism is about investigation, verification, documentation, and ethical reporting. That is what I practice daily as a broadcast journalist. Before I step into the studio, I have already spoken with sources, confirmed facts, studied documents, and ensured accuracy. Only then do I broadcast. Broadcasting is the delivery of the work; journalism is the process behind the work.
Now, let me respond to some of the common arguments raised in the comments:
“Presenters read news, so they are journalists.”
Reading the news does not make you a journalist. It makes you a news reader. The journalist is the one who went out to gather, confirm, and write that story in the first place. Without that, there would be nothing to read.
“If you’re on the radio or TV, you are a journalist.”
No. Being on air makes you a broadcaster. Journalism is not defined by visibility but by responsibility. Many actors appear in films, but not every actor is a filmmaker. The same logic applies here.
“You are looking down on broadcasters.”
Absolutely not. Broadcasting is a noble profession, and I respect it greatly. My article was not written to demerit broadcasters. It was written to clarify the distinction between professions. Both are important, but they are not the same.
“So what is the place of OAPs?”
OAPs (On-Air Personalities) are entertainers, moderators, and presenters. They have their own relevance in keeping the audience engaged. But unless they investigate, verify, and report facts, they are not journalists.
This is why I strongly support the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). The NUJ must never compromise its standards. Not everybody who romances the microphone should be called a journalist. The Union must insist on proof of ethics and professional discipline before admitting anyone into its fold. This is not discrimination; it is protection of journalism’s integrity.
As for me, I am proud to be a broadcast journalist. I do not just speak; I dig, I verify, I document, and I broadcast facts and figures. That is the difference.
So, to all who reacted: thank you for the energy. But my position stands without apology. Broadcasters are broadcasters. Journalists are journalists. And those who want to be both must earn the title through ethics, training, and discipline.
That is the only way to preserve the dignity of both professions.