Every journalist should write a book

May 10, 2024

As I read Niran Adedokun’s new book, ‘Every Journalist Should Write A Book’, I see a number of our colleagues either dusting up their abandoned manuscripts or starting afresh. I see many who will read this book deciding to go beyond being just journalists and transiting into published authors. I see many being inspired and I see many still preferring to maintain the status quo, still saying no one will read them, still saying they don’t have time, still saying they don’t have money, still saying they don’t know how to find a publisher and still saying ‘I’ll start it tomorrow’ and when tomorrow comes, they’ll say there is still time; the same time we all know waits for no one. And in the long run, not every journalist will write a book.

‘Every Journalist Should Write A Book’ captures the multifaceted role of journalists, who traverse diverse landscapes from palaces to slums, documenting the tapestry of human experiences. They serve as catalysts for economic revival, dissecting facts and figures for the masses while engaging with leaders and dissecting public policies. The author laments the loss when journalists fail to immortalise their wealth of knowledge and experiences in books, a missed opportunity for personal growth and societal benefit.

The author doesn’t present this book-writing task as being without challenges. Adedokun underscores the need for perseverance and discipline in mastering the art of writing. He goes further to establish the wide gap between journalistic writing and the delicateness of the long-form writing that books require.

He also gives insights into why many journalists are yet to become authors. Reasons: Mindset, procrastination, self-doubt, what to write about, fear of acceptance, money, perfectionism and unrealistic goals. He urges journalists to envision success, join support groups, defy negative thoughts and show themselves compassion.

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Adedokun, who has authored books of essays, biographies and fiction, provides a roadmap that can lead journalists towards enlightenment and self-discovery.

‘Every Journalist Should Write a Book’ offers a practical approach. It has a ‘how to’ section which offers a slim-fit, step-by-step guide on craftmanship hurdles. He provides a catalogue of what journalists can write about. These include fiction and non-fiction. He breaks these genres further down into novels, memoirs, creative non-fiction, biographies, self-help, and more.

Many journalists are beat reporters, meaning they cover specialised areas such as judiciary, entertainment, crime and so on. Documenting their experiences on the beat, especially major events, Adeniran believes, can make interesting reads and great books.

Journalists also travel a lot in the course of their duties. Adedokun suggests travel books as something worth pursuing. Travel reporters, he urges, can even write travel guides as books.

The book instills confidence and motivation with its examples of successful author-journalists. From Charles Dickens to Mark Twain and Napoleon Hill, Adedokun shows us journalists who transitioned to authors. He also has Nigerian examples such as Segun Osoba, Mike Awoyinfa, Dimgba Igwe, Toni Kan, Azuh Arinze, Lanre Idowu and others.

Arinze, who edited National Encomium for years before starting YES magazine, has many books. One of them is called ‘Encounters’. It is about his meetings with important figures such as boardroom guru Dr. Christopher Kolade, ex-beauty queen Bianca Ojukwu, elegant stallion Onyeka Onwenu, ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the late Dora Akinyili, ex-Governor Segun Osoba, ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo. Others include Dr. Tunde Braimoh, advertising guru Biodun Shobanjo, United Bank for Africa owner Tony Elumelu, ex-Super Eagles star Nwankwo Kanu, Zenith bank owner Jim Ovia, Queen’s counsel, Fidelis Oditah, businessman Ken Caleb Olumese, movie star Kanayo O. Kanayo and Public Relations expert Yomi Badejo-Okusanya. Almost all reporters have met important people on their beats and can replicate something similar. Adedokun feels that the role models in the beats reporters cover can be subjects of books for them.

Kan, a former editor of Hints, has written or co-written over 20 books. His first non-fictional book was on Princess Diana, which he co-wrote with David Dozie Njoku. He has also authored critically acclaimed works of fiction such as ‘Nights of the Creaking Bed’ and ‘Carnivorous City’. The two are still in so much demand over 10 years after they were released.

The author also tells of his personal journey into becoming an author. His first book, ‘Ladies Calling The Shots’, is about female directors. He interviewed and did extensive profiles of them, which told us almost everything that should be known about them. Hungry for more, he followed up with a book of essays, ‘The Danfo Driver in All of Us’. A collection of short stories, ‘The Law is An Ass’, followed. Two biographies, one on the late Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and the other on Wale Adenuga, have also come from his fountain.

Seeing many of his colleagues sitting on books led to his latest, which offers pieces of advice on putting the ideas together, publishing and marketing of books and breaks down the types of publishing. The book’s value extends beyond mere authorship; it symbolises a legacy that transcends material wealth and fame. Adedokun emphasises that books, more than any other possession, ensure a lasting imprint in history, immortalising the author’s legacy.

Long after I closed the last page of this book, I keep telling myself that veteran journalists need do us the honour of giving us books. They should not be like the great Lateef Jakande, whose memoirs went with him to his grave.

The first female editor of a national newspaper, Dr. Doyin Abiola, owes us a book or books. One of them is a memoir on the June 12 crisis; the other is about her exciting times as a record-breaking journalist. It will be interesting to find out what was going on in the MKO Abiola family while the drama lasted and other juicy details I am convinced she has documented, for now, in her memory and needs to be downloaded on paper. And she has the mental and writing skills to do this. Will she oblige us?

High Chief Ikechi Emenike, from snippets I have heard, has had fascinating experiences with finance ministers across Africa, especially West Africa, for decades. As the publisher of specialised Afro-centric magazines, he has had dealings with the drivers of economies. He has traversed that corridor like no one else I know. His adventures are the sort that will make a readable memoir, the type I’m dying to lay my hands on. Another book may also be about his wife’s emergence as Nigeria’s first female ambassador to the United States. Dr Elizabeth Emenike was our envoy to the Republic of Ireland before the then President, Muhammadu Buhari, named her the first female Nigerian ambassador to the U.S.

Aside Dr Abiola and Emenike, there are so many other senior journalists owing us books. It is a debt they have to pay and it is hightime they paid it.

My final take: It is a sin to die with a book in you, especially if you have all it takes—writing skills, resources, time and so on—to make it a reality and thus enrich the portfolios of human knowledge.

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