When My Story is Recommended for Teaching Journalism in the USA -By Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim

I recently received the exciting news that one of my previously written stories has been chosen by a journalism trainer based in New York as a teaching manual for his students and fellow journalists.

It fills me with joy to know that my impactful and evidence-based reporting has been deemed valuable enough to be used as a guide in teaching journalism, even in the prestigious city of New York, USA.

I had the privilege of attending the class where my story was utilized as a case study. I observed with great satisfaction how the American journalist did justice to the topic, and I witnessed people of various backgrounds, including white individuals, learning from my work. It was a remarkable experience to see my story showcased alongside articles published by esteemed publications like The Washington Post.

During this time, I had the opportunity to engage with Allen Arthur, a freelance journalist and Manager at the Solutions Journalism Network, as well as his colleague. It was a pleasure meeting them and expanding my network on a global scale.

I still vividly remember how stories penned by seasoned journalists were employed as teaching materials during the early days of my career. Now, I am elated to have reached a stage where my own story can serve as an educational resource for others in the United States.

For those curious about which story or story link was chosen, you can find it below. It is the story I wrote about the efforts of the Gombe state government in combating climate change.

Link to the story: https://socialvoices.org/gombe-state-says-it-has-planted-2-7-million-trees-to-combat-climate-change/

I pursued this idea because I often pondered why most solutions journalism stories in Nigeria focused on the work of NGOs. Does that imply that the government isn’t addressing any issues? No, it does not.

However, limitations and challenges are inherent, unlike in public relations. This distinction is what sets a solutions journalism story apart from a PR piece. To qualify as solutions journalism, a story must encompass the four pillars of solutions journalism, as outlined by Mr. Allen in his presentation.

The “Gombe Goes Green – 3G Project,” an initiative of the Gombe state government, has now become a subject of international significance. I am proud to have written this story.

Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is a multiple award-winning journalist and a 2020 AIJC fellow, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He can be reached via awwalbinibrahim@gmail.com