A voice from the Global South to Uptown
Throughout my career spanning major media outlets such as the Daily Times of Nigeria, Nigerian Herald, Radio Nigeria and others, I have witnessed journalism’s power to transform societies, hold power accountable and amplify marginalized voices. As both a student of computing and a journalist with a global perspective, I offer insights on why journalism remains vital – especially for our diverse Uptown community.
Uptown Chicago, home to immigrants from over 40 countries according to the City of Chicago website, mirrors Nigeria’s diversity of over 220 million population, speaking 400 languages, where responsible journalism fosters understanding across differences. When reporting on inter-communal tensions in Nigeria, I saw how coverage could either inflame or heal divisions. Similarly, Uptown’s diversity demands responsible journalism that connects rather than divides, to share stories of Vietnamese seniors, Ethiopian small business owners and Mexican families that comprise our community fabric.
According to recent Gallup research, only 32% of Americans trust the news they consume, down from 45% five years ago, which is why the expression “fake news” is used in common parlance these days. During Nigeria’s transition to democracy, I witnessed how state propaganda obscured reality and delayed political change, apart from precipitating senseless conflicts within communities. Today, Truman students face an even more complex information ecosystem, where fabricated content outperforms factual reporting.
For students building their understanding of the world, media literacy skills aren’t luxuries – they are necessities for informed citizenship.
The tension between institutional authority and free expression has recently erupted on campuses nationwide. Since 2022, incidents of officials attempting to restrict academic speech or journalistic activity in public universities have been documented. These challenges mirror situations I covered in Nigeria, where press freedom often faced government interference.
At Truman, where many students receive federal aid, understanding the relationship between government support and intellectual freedom becomes particularly relevant. Journalism provides essential oversight, ensuring that government involvement in education expands rather than constrains opportunity.
Chicago has lost 61% of its local newsroom jobs since 2005, according to WBEZ radio. The consequences are measurable: Neighborhoods with diminished local news coverage experience lower voter turnout, decreased community engagement and less accountability for local officials.
In Nigeria’s rural areas, I witnessed how communities without reliable local reporting became vulnerable to corruption and neglect. As Chicago’s media landscape contracts, who will report on Uptown’s housing challenges, where 42% of residents face housing insecurity (per a 2023 study from De Paul’s Institute of Housing Studies)? You can imagine the plight of shanty and slum dwellers, when it was curiously possible for an arsonist to set on fire the Maryland State Governor’s residence while the entire family had retired to sleep at night.
Who will cover Truman’s budget when facing cuts as is the case with Harvard University, now at risk of the withdrawal of research funding to the tune of over two billion dollars?
A Call to Action: As someone who has practiced journalism under both military and civilian rule, as editor of a national newspaper with a circulation of over 500,000 copies per edition, and at other times the managing director of state radio and television corporation, I urge Truman students and our Uptown neighbors to:
- Support local journalism through readership and engagement.
- Develop media literacy skills to distinguish credible reporting from manipulation.
- Consider contributing to information sharing in our community.
- Defend the independence of both journalism and academic inquiry against government overreach.
The challenges facing journalism – from economic pressures to political interference – are real. But its importance has never been greater. In Nigeria, I witnessed how a functioning press could expose corruption, prevent violence and give voice to the marginalized. Here in Uptown, Chicago journalism can similarly serve as a collective conscience. The question, in all reasonableness, is not whether we can afford to support journalism in these challenging times but whether we can afford not to.
This content is made possible through TCR’s Student Voices series, made possible through our partnership with Truman College and the Uptown Exchange.