The Association of Communication Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria (ACSPN) has called for stronger collaboration between communication scholars and practising journalists to advance the media profession in Nigeria.
The call was made during a courtesy visit by the association’s executives to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, at the union’s state secretariat in Osogbo.
The ACSPN delegation was led by its Osun State Coordinator, Dr. Adeola Oyedele, alongside Dr. Sijude Emmanuel.
Speaking during the visit, Oyedele said the association was established to bridge the longstanding gap between academic researchers and media practitioners, noting that closer engagement would enable both groups to benefit from their respective experiences and expertise.
“Most of the time, scholars are confined to the classroom and do not fully grasp what is happening on the front lines of practice,” he said.
Oyedele added that while journalists could benefit from scholarly insights, communication academics also needed to understand the practical realities confronting media practitioners.
The association noted that its national body maintained a strong working relationship with the NUJ, adding that state chapters were expected to replicate the collaboration.
According to the delegation, partnership with the union would facilitate joint training programmes, workshops and other capacity-building initiatives for communication scholars and practising journalists.
It added that working through official NUJ channels would help ensure that relevant resource persons and participants were involved in such programmes.
Welcoming the delegation, the leadership of the Osun State NUJ commended the initiative, expressing optimism that closer cooperation between the association and the union would benefit both journalists and communication scholars.
The union said the proposed partnership would contribute to professional development and promote excellence in media practice across the state.
