The Group News Editor of LEADERSHIP, Dr Sunday Isuwa, has received the Distinguished Media Icon of the Year Award 2026, urging journalists and newspaper editors to embrace digital technology to remain relevant in the changing media landscape.
Isuwa received the award at the 17th Annual Lecture and Awards of the Ebony Herald Hall of Fame and Dignity International, held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The event, which focused on Nigeria’s Evolving Democracy, Insecurity and the Impact of Social Media, brought together stakeholders in the media and other sectors.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the ceremony, Isuwa described the recognition as an encouragement to continue contributing to journalism and democratic accountability.
He said, “It’s so exciting that if you do something that you have passion for and you receive an honour, I think it’s a very good thing. I was just doing my work and, as a young man, I believed that I had a career in journalism. And so, my focus was to study mass communication.”
He said his journalism career had taken him through several media organisations, including LEADERSHIP, Daily Trust, Daily Times and Pulse.NG, adding that he had also freelanced for The New York Times.
According to him, his commitment has been to ensure that the media does not fail citizens in its responsibility to inform, enlighten and hold government accountable.
Isuwa, who authored Digital Shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper Industry, said the book was designed to promote media literacy and to help journalists and other stakeholders understand the transformation underway in the industry.
On the challenges confronting traditional newspaper organisations, he advised young journalists to develop strong reading habits and continuously improve their professional knowledge.
He said journalists must go beyond writing stories for publication, stressing that intellectual development and the practical application of knowledge were essential to professional growth.
“My advice to young journalists and those who have a passion for journalism is that this is a profession that requires someone to be knowledgeable about everything. And for you to be knowledgeable, you have to read, re-read and apply it,” he said.
The editor lamented that many journalists had abandoned reading, noting that the profession required continuous learning beyond the daily routine of reporting and publishing stories.
He added, “When you read, you are empowering yourself, and you will have the ability to also empower others. So, that’s why I don’t joke with reading. I have my own timetable of reading.”
Isuwa also challenged newspaper editors still operating with traditional newsroom practices to adapt to the digital environment, warning that failure to embrace new technology could leave them behind.
He said modern newspaper journalism required multimedia skills, including photography, video production and the ability to deliver live reports from different locations.
“If you are a newspaper journalist, you don’t just write text and go to sleep. No, you have to take pictures. You have to take videos.
“You have to learn how to speak when they call you from the office or from a studio so that you can be able to give live updates in every environment,” he said.
On the growing influence of artificial intelligence in journalism, Isuwa said technology should be seen as a tool for improving efficiency rather than replacing journalists.
He urged editors to adopt available digital applications and artificial intelligence tools to improve newsroom operations and the quality of their output.
“I’m not saying that technology is taking our job, but technology is to enhance our job. And so, those who will not venture into technology, they will be left behind,” he said.
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