Stella Din-Jacob, Editor-in-Chief and Director of News at TVC News, shared tips for becoming confident newsroom leader, confronting bias and for effective writing at the sixth Report Women! Female Reporters Leadership Programme (FRLP) Fellowship training. Hosted by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) in Lagos, from 2nd to 4th April 2025, the training brought together 12 female journalists selected for the fellowship.
In her sessions on “Developing competence and building confidence to lead the newsroom,” Din-Jacob identified the need for strong editorial direction, effective team management and ethical journalism. She stressed that confidence in leadership stems from staying informed about industry trends, mastering crisis communication and making clear decisions under pressure. She urged participants to empower their teams by delegating responsibilities, giving room for creativity and embracing digital tools such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and social media to better engage audiences.
Tackling newsroom bias in her session “Handling stereotypes and conflicts in and outside the newsroom,” Din-Jacob unpacked how various forms of bias, whether gender, generational, cultural, ethnic, or institutional, can undermine both storytelling and newsroom dynamics. She advised inclusive leadership practices, diverse sourcing and regular bias training, advising open dialogue for building cohesive teams. She also shared practical tips on conflict resolution, covering everything from editorial disputes to managing external pressures from public officials, advocacy groups and audiences.
During her “Write It Right” session, Din-Jacob turned to the foundations of effective writing. She urged participants to write with clarity and purpose, advising them to avoid clichés, favour the active voice, and maintain varied sentence structure. She recommended that participants use precise language and refining tone for greater impact.
