Goodbye Awareness Times Newspaper

Different meanings are being given to the word “Goodbye”. Whilst some people believe it is the saddest word on planet earth, others consider it as a word of relief. The fact however is ‘goodbye’ can be a sad word and at the same time a word of happiness. It all depends on the context or scenario in which it is used.

It is however difficult to place an interpretation on the word ‘goodbye’ in a scenario where somebody is quitting an institution he had always wanted to serve. But true to the words of my father, ‘it reaches a time in a man’s life when he has to make a decisive decision’.  

That said, let me now formally announce that I am leaving the Editorial Team of my darling Awareness Times Newspaper. Monday September 5 2011 will be the final edition that will involve my editorial input. As from Tuesday September 6 2011, the helm of the Awareness Times Editorial Team will be manned by my successor, Mr. Abu-Bakarr Shaw.

Significant of note also is the fact that I am leaving the Awareness Times Newspaper with the fullest blessings of my boss, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, Publisher of the Awareness Times Newspaper.

My Tenure at Awareness Times

Prior to highlighting my reason for leaving, let me first of all outline to my readers my stewardship at the Awareness Times Newspaper. I undoubtedly enjoyed my tenure to the utmost. With the recommendation of my maternal uncle Ibrahim Karim-Sei, whom I was working for as a reporter in the African Standard Newspaper, I joined the Awareness Times team in November 2007, a couple of weeks following the conclusion of the 2007 general elections.

Dr. Sylvia Blyden wasted no time in accepting me into the Awareness Times as a reporter on probation, with my first assignment being to ‘cover’ and report on the parliamentary sitting to approve Abdul Tejan-Cole as Commissioner of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).

Following the parliamentary approval of the now run-away ACC boss, I wrote the news item and submitted it to the office. I was already dozing off to sleep at around 9pm that fateful evening when I received a telephone call from an unusual number. “Hello my dear,” the courteous female voice sounded, and I automatically recognized it as Dr. Blyden’s voice. She asked me if I was the one that actually authored the script I submitted, and I responded in the affirmative. She then asked me to meet her in the office and I wasted no time to jump off my bed and rushed to the office in a commercial motorbike (okada).

On arrival, Blyden politely instructed me to re-write the Abdul Tejan-Cole/Parliament story using her personal computer inside her office. Notwithstanding the fact that the office was freezing with an air-conditioner, I profusely perspired throughout the one hour I spent in putting together the story under the watchful eyes of the no-nonsense publisher.

On completion, Blyden perused the piece I wrote and automatically decided to include me in the editorial team. Yes! I was appointed or named as the News Editor for the Awareness Times Newspaper on the very first night of my probation as a reporter.

That night was mixed with joy and apprehension. I was elated to become the News Editor for the country’s widely read newspaper and jittery that I might not be capable of handling such a herculean task. Noticing the panic in my eyes, Blyden cheered me up with the assurance that I will definitely make it. She promised to build on my talent and make me a force to reckon with in the country’s media landscape.

With my impressive performance, I only served as News Editor for two months. And I was promoted in February 2008 as Deputy Editor Current Affairs. Eight months later, I was again elevated to serve as the Editor for the Newspaper; a position I maintained until now.

Since I became Deputy Editor Current Affairs, I have on several instances acted as Publisher whenever my boss is away from the office or out of the country. In total contrast with the perception of many, I have single handedly handled most of the Awareness Times’ editions independently, without the supervision of Dr. Blyden.

In November 2008, my motherly boss, Sylvia Blyden thought it wise that I must pursue further formal education in journalism and enrolled me at the London School of Journalism (LSJ). She single handedly financed and bankrolled my academic course, and to her satisfaction, I graduated two years later, in 2010, with Distinction in Journalism and News Writing.

During my tenure as News Editor and Deputy Editor Current Affairs, I had the opportunity to work closely with senior colleagues in the journalism profession including Sitta Turay, presently in the United States of America, Sahr M’bayo of ‘My Thoughts Alone’ fame, Theophilus Gbenda, presently working for Culture Radio, Kef Dukulay, now of Unity Newspaper, Chernor Alpha Bah of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) party and Jon Foray of Bloomberg International News, as they were being contracted on temporal basis to serve as Editors at the Awareness Times Newspaper.

I obediently closed myself with all of the aforementioned and my journalistic output cannot be dissociated from what I learnt from them. Together with my ‘mom’ Sylvia Blyden, they all significantly contributed towards making me the journalist I am today. To you all sirs, I say thank you.

The Sylvia Blyden I know

Working with Sylvia Blyden exposes me to a lot of things including but not limited to education, professionalism, very influential people, and even risks. Say what you may about the country’s only female publisher, but the fact remains that she is a fearless and professional journalist.

The Sylvia Blyden I know is one that does not compromise her editorial independence and self integrity for anything in the world; the Sylvia Blyden I know is very strict on her journalists to maintain professionalism and practice within the ambit of the law; the Sylvia Blyden I know provides her journalists with all the working tools they need to make work easy; and the Sylvia Blyden I know does not author or publish anything she cannot substantiate in a Court of Law.

With her guidance, I have never been found wanting for any professional misconduct; records at the Independent Media Commission and the Law Courts can substantiate this assertion. True to her promise on the very first day of my employment at the Awareness Times, Sylvia Blyden has succeeded in capacitating and marketing my journalistic talent to the world.

I can now proudly describe myself as the youngest professional newspaper editor in West Africa, if not the world over. Words cannot express my appreciation towards the extra-ordinary things that Sylvia Blyden has done for me and my family. I will forever remain grateful to her and she will forever remain my ‘mom’.

To my reading fans

I know my reading fans would be saddened over my departure from the Awareness Times. You know what? I’ve got good news for you. I am leaving Awareness Times but not the journalism profession. With all my experience at the African Standard Newspaper and the Awareness Times Newspaper, am now of the strong conviction that I can now go into the journalism world independently.

In that regard, I am already concluding arrangements for the commencement of my own newspaper, which would be launched shortly, God wiling. That newspaper, when launched, would also be viewed on the World Wide Web. You have nothing to lose; Fonti is going nowhere (smile).

Farewell

To the entire team of Awareness Times, both past and present, I must state here that I enjoyed all the support and cordiality we shared throughout my stay. Though I will remain with you guys in spirit and even in the physical, am definitely going to miss you all. 

Goodbye my Sylvia Blyden; goodbye my reporters; goodbye my co-workers; goodbye my Awareness Times; I am already missing you.