RENOWNED scholar, novelist and journalist, Professor Adebayo Williams has agreed to deliver the keynote speech at the 2nd edition of the Idowu Sobowale Conference (ISC 2011).The conference will hold between May 10 and 13, 2011 at the Caleb University, Imota, in Ikorodu, Lagos. The theme of the 3-day conference is 150 plus Years of Journalism in Nigeria: Telling the Nigerian Story. The Professor of English and acknowledged specialist in the field of African literature, who has in the last couple of years developed a wide interest in political development in Nigeria and in the continent of Africa, is expected to, with his keynote speech, set the tone for the discussions at the conference.Apart from tracing the evolution and development of the journalism profession and also touching the issue of control, ownership and management of journalism in Nigeria almost a century and half after, Prof. Williams, is expected to provide a leading as to how journalism practice can be re-invented in the face of contemporary developments.Chairman of the local organizing committee of the conference and professor of mass communication at the Caleb University, Lai Oso said the organizing committee was looking forward to a robust and intellectually stimulating conference. Professor Oso who disclosed that over 50 well researched papers had been received and would be presented at the conference said the committee was particularly pleased that a renowned and international acclaimed scholar and engaging speaker has accepted to deliver the keynote for the all important conference which will also examine the degree of symbiotic relationship between Journalism practice and indigenous language in Nigeria.I must say that we at the organizing committee are elated not just because we have put everything in place to ensure a successful conference but the fact that we count ourselves extremely privileged to have someone like Professor Adebayo deliver the keynote speech. Not only is Professor Adebayo a foremost African intellectual, writer, critic, author, translator and political theorist, Professor Adebayo is an award winning journalist which makes him eminently qualified to speak on the theme of the conference which is 150 years and more of journalism practice in Nigeria. So we expect nothing less than a robust and intellectually engaging conference when we meet at Imota as from May 10, Oso said.To be hosted this time by the Department of Mass Communication of Caleb University, the first edition of the conference dedicated to an icon of the journalism profession and one of the leading lights in communication scholarship in the continent, Professor Idowu Sobowale, held in 2009 at the department of Mass Communication of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State. It attracted media and communication studies professionals and scholars and they examined issue of media governance and development in Africa.This years conference however coincides with Professor Sobowales 70th birthday anniversary and as Oso revealed, the conference participants will avail themselves of the opportunity to pay a fitting tribute to the Professor of Mass communication and current head of the department of mass communication of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State who has served as three times special adviser and later commissioner for education in the first and third civilian governments of Lagos State.According to Professor Oso, this is our own way of saluting this thorough-bred academic, public administrator, pioneer of public opinion polls in Nigeria and distinguished former editor and war reporter and I have consistently said that it is not a coincidence at all that we are examining 150 years plus of journalism in Nigeria because he has been a part of that process and has taught journalism too and he still at it.The global context of journalism practice; ethics, law and regulations of journalism; gender issues in journalism; model and trends in journalism; journalism, literacy ad media audience in Nigeria and journalism, research, theories and approaches are some of other sub-themes to be treated at the conference.
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