For Abidemi Gideon Ayeni, journalism did not begin in a newsroom, at a press conference or with a byline in a newspaper.
It started much earlier, on a school assembly ground, where Gideon was part of a press group responsible for reading newspapers to students.
What began as a school activity gradually developed into an interest in writing, storytelling and public communication. Years later, that early interest would grow into a professional journalism career and eventually lead to the establishment of Fresh News, an online media platform founded by Gideon and a colleague.
Today, Gideon works across different areas of the media industry as a journalist, content creator and publisher.
How It Started in Secondary School
Gideon’s interest in journalism can be traced to his secondary school days at ICSS Isnalu, where he was involved in the school’s press group.
The group regularly read newspapers during assembly, giving students an opportunity to learn about major events and developments beyond their immediate environment.
His involvement in the school press group later earned him another responsibility when he became an assembly prefect.
The experience gave him an early opportunity to speak before other students and gradually develop confidence in public communication.
Looking back, those seemingly simple school activities would become an important foundation for his eventual career in journalism.
The Assignment That Strengthened His Interest in Writing
Although Gideon had already developed an interest in journalism, an experience during his education further strengthened his confidence as a writer.
As a student, he participated in an assignment that required students to produce written work.
His submission was eventually announced as the best by Professor Chris Attah.
The recognition meant a lot to him.
It reinforced the belief that writing was not just something he enjoyed but could also become a career.
Studying Mass Communication
Gideon later gained admission to Kogi State University, Anyigba, where he studied Mass Communication.
His university years provided an opportunity to combine classroom learning with practical experience.
He joined Fusion FM, the university’s radio station, where he worked as an on-air personality.
Among his responsibilities were newspaper reviews and a programme focused on events in history.
The experience exposed him to broadcasting, news presentation and the discipline involved in communicating information to an audience.
From SIWES to Professional Journalism
Gideon’s professional journalism journey began in earnest in 2017, when he embarked on his Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) programme at the Kwara State Newspapers and Publishing Corporation.
His time there introduced him to the practical side of newsroom work and reporting.
It marked an important transition from studying journalism in the classroom to experiencing the realities of working in a professional media organisation.
The experience helped him understand that journalism required more than writing. It demanded curiosity, accuracy, persistence and the ability to tell stories clearly.
Building Experience Across Media Organisations
Over the years, Gideon has worked with several media organisations in different capacities.
His professional experience includes working as an On-Air Personality at KSU Fusion FM, a reporter at the Kwara State Newspapers and Publishing Corporation, and later as a reporter with the Ebonyi State Newspapers and Publishing Corporation during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
He subsequently worked with digital news platforms, including GWG.ng and Discovererngr.com, where he worked as a reporter and content creator.
These experiences exposed him to different forms of journalism, from traditional newspaper reporting and radio broadcasting to the fast-paced world of online media.
Leadership Experience During NYSC
During his NYSC service in Ebonyi State, Gideon also took on a leadership role.
He served as Deputy Editor of the Editorial CDS during Batch C, Stream 1.
The position gave him another opportunity to work with other corps members, contribute to editorial activities and further develop his understanding of teamwork and content production.
Reporting Across Different Beats
Throughout his career, Gideon has worked on stories across different areas of journalism.
His experience includes general news, politics, human-interest stories, social issues and other developments of public interest.
Working in online journalism has also required him to adapt to a rapidly changing media environment where stories can develop within minutes and readers expect timely updates.
For Gideon, however, speed should not come at the expense of responsibility.
The objective remains to provide information that is useful, understandable and relevant to readers.
Further Academic Development
Gideon’s interest in journalism has also continued through education.
After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Kogi State University, Anyigba, he proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Multimedia and Journalism.
His postgraduate studies further strengthened his interest in the relationship between journalism, multimedia and digital technology.
That combination has become increasingly important as journalism continues to evolve from traditional newspapers and broadcasting into a largely digital environment.
From Reporter to Publisher
After years of working as a reporter and content creator, Gideon took another major step in his media journey by co-founding Fresh News with a colleague.
The idea behind Fresh News was straightforward: to provide readers with fresh news and useful information from Nigeria and around the world.
For the team behind Fresh News, however, the vision goes beyond simply publishing breaking stories.
“We want to give fresh updates to the masses and create a platform where readers can find news, useful information and stories that matter to them,” Gideon says.
The platform is therefore being developed around a combination of news reports, features, human-interest stories and practical content.
Why We Created Fresh News
Fresh News was born from a shared desire to create something of our own in the digital media space.
We believe readers deserve timely, useful and engaging information, and that is the principle behind the platform.
Our aim is not simply to chase every breaking story.
We also want to produce original features and practical articles that can remain useful to readers long after they are published.
That is why Fresh News has begun expanding beyond conventional news reporting to include areas such as DIY and practical guides, alongside politics, human-interest stories, entertainment and other areas of public interest.
Building a Digital Media Brand
Building an online media platform in today’s environment is not without its challenges.
The digital media industry is highly competitive, with numerous websites and social-media platforms competing for the attention of readers.
For us, the challenge goes beyond getting people to click on a story.
We want to build credibility, produce original content, maintain consistency and earn the trust of our audience.
Our experience in journalism continues to influence the way we approach Fresh News.
We understand that publishing is not simply about putting information online. It is about providing readers with something valuable.
Our Vision for Fresh News
The long-term goal is ambitious.
We want Fresh News to become one of the leading news blogs in Africa by 2030.
Achieving that goal will require continued investment in journalism, technology, content development and audience engagement.
For now, we are focused on steadily building the platform, improving the quality of our content and expanding our reach.
The Journey Continues
From reading newspapers during secondary school assembly to presenting newspaper reviews on university radio, working in newspaper organisations, reporting for digital platforms and eventually co-founding an online media platform, Gideon’s journey has followed a clear path.
The student who once stood before his classmates reading newspaper stories has now become part of a team building a platform where thousands of readers can access news and information.
There is still a long way to go.
But the vision is clear.
We want Fresh News to become a trusted African media brand, while continuing to grow, improve and serve our readers with fresh, useful and credible content.
For Gideon, the journey that began with a school press group is far from over.
The story is still being written.
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