At last, the book ‘A Reporter and His Beat’, written by veteran journalist, Yinka Fabowale, will be launched next Wednesday in Lagos.
A memoir of his more than 30 years journalism career, the book surveys the trends and dynamics of journalism training and practice, media settings, ethos and traditions over time, as it also reflects the sociology of the Nigerian media.
In it, Fabowale, an award- winning journalist, vividly paints the picture of the diverse experiences and challenges the African journalist faces as he rises from the level of a rookie to veteran.
Ahead of its public presentation, the work is already generating interest and positive reactions, with colleagues describing it as signposting the author’s accustomed literary prowess.
The book reviewer, a serial international award-winning journalist, former MD/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Newspapers in Ghana, and President, The Crest Publishing Limited, Mr Shola Oshunkeye, says of the book: “This riveting memoir of an extraordinary journalist, one of the best in our land, is worth its weight in diamond. It makes a compelling reading.”
Another celebrated journalist and co-founder of one of the nation’s foremost investigative news magazines, TELL, Mr Dare Babarinsa, in the Foreword, gives a glowing testimony of ‘A Reporter and His Beat.’
According to him, the author has, through his wide scope of experience, the many people he has interacted with, and the large number of icons of the profession he learnt from in his career, given readers an enriching book of 40 chapters divided into seven parts.
He describes the book as also a testimonial about the state of Nigerian journalism from a veteran who has traversed different publications including Lagos Horizon, The Guardian, The Sun, and TELL, and has come to realize the power of the press and its innate weaknesses.
He says that the author, who was on the beat when Abacha and his goons were on the prowl and journalism became one of Nigeria’s most dangerous professions, in ‘A Reporter and His Beat’, reminds Nigerians now savoring civil rule, about those heroes and heroines who paid the price so that they and their beloved country can enjoy uninterrupted and lasting freedom from military rule and dictatorship.
Writes Babarinsa: “This is a book of history, of journalism, and a testament about courage and determination. The style is mellifluous and accessible, flowing with the milk of humanness and the penetrating surefootedness of a seasoned athlete. No wonder it is such romance with good language and the capacity to convey information in the garment of truth and unpretentiousness that has won Fabowale so many laurels in his chosen profession. This is a great work. It is worth your time and investment.”
Also, a Professor of Communication at Baze University, Abuja, and a former colleague of Fabowale in The Guardian, Prof Abiodun Adeniyi, lauds the book as a “good read for a wide range of audience, for the purity of the author’s presentation, the beauty of his language and the huge lessons within.”
Former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Sun PublishingLtd, Mr Mike Awoyinfa, sums up the work as “…a tapestry of captivating stories, pedagogy and moral treatise, which defies strict compartmentalization into any of the literary genres.
He says the book is so educative that colleagues (including media executives) would it find invaluable in their pursuit of the watchdog role of the press.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, who was also a former Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Newspapers, Mr Femi Adesina writes: of the author: “Ask me of a dyed-in-the-wool reporter/writer, and I’ll show you Yinka Fabowale. He uncannily combines the nose for news of a natural reporter, with the aplomb of a creative writer. The alchemy gives you a well-rounded journalist who delivers the best kind of scripts you can think of… I’m glad he has written this book, about a career in which I’m an experiential participant. You will enjoy reading it. Come ask me if you don’t.”
Dr Tony Onyima, another former Managing Director of the tabloid, reckons
“‘A Reporter and His Beat’ an important addition to the Nigerian media literature in many respects. Besides being an indigenous contribution to body of knowledge, it is “a first hand recollections by an infantry man whose exploits on the beat are legendary. As a colorful raconteur, Yinka weaves a tapestry of journalistic experiences for humanity. The book will be a resource material for teachers and students of journalism particularly now that appropriate texts are needed for the teaching of the various disciplines in the unbundled Mass Communication field. Every media practitioner and manager will also need the book to learn and recalibrate,” he says.
Mr Muda Ganiyu, a former Editor of Nigerian Tribune, recommends it to all journalists, journalism teachers and students, and the general public” for being “entertaining, enthralling, and educative.”
Mrs Lola Fabowale-Male, a policy analyst, remarks that: “Glinting off Yinka Fabowale’s mirror in ‘A Reporter and His Beat’ are more than personal images. Rather, as he himself recognizes, the reflections are of the kaleidoscopic, dynamic interplay of developments and stagnation at different levels of analysis….”, from the personal to the sectoral, regional and national.
She judged the work “… a solid contribution to the annals of not just Nigeria’s Fourth Estate but the very nation itself.”.
Mr Lekan Lagunju, a former Editor, The Monitor Newspapers, simply says: “Thanks for writing this book, Yinka.”
Barrister Yemi Giwa, a former Abuja Bureau Chief, Nigerian Tribune, enthuses: “I can’t wait to buy, masticate and digest the book. Its Aroma is overwhelmingly Tantalizing.”
A former classmate of the author, the journalist-turned lawyer recalls that: “Way back in the early 80s Yinka (Fabowale) was one of the best among us at the Department of Language Arts, University of lbadan, describing him as a worthy Ambassador of the Department. department.
Mr Lade Bonuola, Pioneer Editor and later Managing Director of The Guardian, describes the author’s trademark literary style as impressive. “With accustomed enrapturing prose! Enchanting freshly words, never the beaten track nor the same old hat and tired words. None do you embrace, nor can any be attributed to you, but the picturesque renditions of accounts!”, the top journalist adds.
