How journalism will become human again
Veteran journalist and publisher Ovation Media Group, Dele Momodu has warned that Nigerian journalism is losing its essence as human interest storytelling steadily gives way to speed driven and politically
Veteran journalist and publisher Ovation Media Group, Dele Momodu has warned that Nigerian journalism is losing its essence as human interest storytelling steadily gives way to speed driven and politically dominated reporting.
Momodu spoke at the Shola Oshunkeye Colloquium and Book Launch held at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos recently, where he delivered the keynote address on the theme, The decline of human interest journalism in Nigeria.
The event marked the 70th birthday of veteran journalist Shola Oshunkeye and attracted leading figures in the media industry, including former Ogun State governor Olusegun Osoba, who chaired the occasion.
Momodu said journalism in Nigeria once thrived on stories that captured the depth of human experience, but has now become largely detached from the people it is meant to serve.
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“This is not merely a celebration of age, but of a life devoted to excellence, courage, and the lasting craft of journalism,” he said, describing Oshunkeye as a voice through which the conscience of Nigerian journalism could be expressed.
According to him, the theme of the colloquium reflects a troubling shift in the profession.
“There was a time when journalism was not confined to reporting events. It was about people, context, and meaning. Stories were told not just to inform, but to connect, move and inspire,” he said.
Momodu recalled his early days at the Weekend Concord and later as editor of Classic Magazine, noting that journalism at the time allowed reporters to navigate both the struggles of ordinary Nigerians and the inner worlds of powerful figures.
He said such encounters revealed the humanity behind power and helped build trust based on responsible storytelling.
“Those interactions were not merely social privileges. They were professional opportunities of the highest order. They built relationships that became bridges of understanding,” he said.
He stressed that human interest journalism is not secondary but foundational to serious reporting.
“It enables journalists to connect personal stories to broader societal patterns. It humanises power and dignifies the ordinary. It builds empathy and fosters understanding,” he said.
Momodu noted that the current media environment, driven by immediacy and the race to break news, has weakened depth, accuracy, and emotional connection.
“Information travels faster than ever, but often at the expense of reflection. The pursuit of virality has overshadowed the responsibility of empathy,” he said.
He added that the ordinary citizen, once central to storytelling, is now frequently absent, replaced by an over focus on power, celebrity and spectacle.
“In losing these voices, journalism risks losing its moral anchor,” he said.
The Ovation publisher called for a deliberate return to people-centred storytelling, deeper research and the training of a new generation of journalists who understand their role beyond reporting events.
He also emphasised the need to preserve media archives as guides to the values that once defined the profession.
“Journalism must not become a mere conveyor of information. It must remain a vital instrument of understanding and connection,” he said.
The keynote set the tone for a robust panel session where media professionals interrogated the economic, technological and professional factors behind the decline of human interest journalism.
Former Managing Director The Sun, Dr Tony Onyema, said content analysis of Nigerian newspapers shows that more than 70 per cent of reports are now politically driven.
“We have so politicised the environment that human interest stories have taken a backseat,” he said, adding that economic pressures and declining newsroom mentorship have worsened the trend.
Former Osun State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode said the shift towards hard news has limited storytelling depth, arguing that even complex subjects can be humanised to make them more relatable.
She cited past newsroom practices where stories were approached from unconventional angles to draw readers into deeper engagement.
Publisher and academic Dr. Maureen Chigbo attributed the shift partly to technological disruption, noting that digital platforms and citizen journalism have altered how stories are gathered and consumed.
“Technology has changed the way we process and disseminate news. Citizen journalists now dominate the human interest space, which the mainstream media once owned,” she said.
Other panelists argued that audience behaviour and revenue models have also influenced editorial choices, with many media houses prioritising political and business news for survival.
In his review, Editor Saturday Tribune, Lasisi Olagunju, described the work as a powerful archive of Nigerian journalism that captures the drama, risks, and emotional depth of the profession.
He said the book goes beyond reporting facts to presenting journalism as lived experience, where stories unfold with tension, conflict, and human complexity.
“It is not merely a collection of stories. It is a cultural document and a biography of practice,” he said.
Olagunju highlighted Oshunkeye’s storytelling style, noting its cinematic quality and focus on extreme human experiences such as tragedy, resilience, and moral dilemmas.
He added that the work reflects a period when journalism demanded courage, persistence, and a strong ethical foundation.
