Every now and then, young communicators ask me a familiar question: “Can someone be both a journalist and a public relations practitioner at the same time? Can I belong to both the NUJ and the NIPR?”
It’s a fair question. After all, journalism and PR both revolve around information, influence, and the power of words. But the truth is: while you may carry both memberships, you cannot faithfully wear both caps at the same time.
Here’s why.
Journalism is about informing the public truthfully, holding leaders accountable, and reporting facts whether they are convenient or not.
Public Relations, on the other hand, is about protecting and promoting the image of a client, government, or organization.
The two hats don’t fit together because they demand different loyalties. A journalist is expected to scrutinize, while a PR officer is expected to defend. If you try to do both, you will end up in an ethical conflict of interest.
I speak from personal experience. My career began at Katsina State Television (KTTV) — not immediately as a journalist, but as a broadcaster. I hosted current affairs programs, political discussions, personality profiles, and even interactive phone-in shows. Later, I transitioned into journalism proper: reporting the news, editing stories, and shaping coverage.
When I transferred to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), everything changed again. I became the Chief Public Affairs Officer — the Image Maker of the Commission. My task was no longer to report impartially but to project and defend the Commission’s policies before the public. From there, I later moved into broadcast regulation, which brought yet another professional lens.
Looking back, each stage required me to drop one cap and wear another. I could not be broadcaster, journalist, PR officer, and regulator at the same time. I had to realign my professional focus as the journey demanded.
This is not unique to me. Others have walked similar paths. Segun Adeniyi, once a respected journalist, later served as spokesman to President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. Reuben Abati, a fiery columnist, became media adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan. Garba Shehu, long-time NUJ member, eventually became the media aide to Presidents Obasanjo and Buhari. Each of them had to cross the bridge from being watchdogs of power to becoming defenders of power.
So, what advice would I give young communicators?
Pick one cap at a time. If journalism is your passion, embrace the NUJ and stand for truth, credibility, and accountability. If you’re drawn to advocacy and reputation management, join the NIPR and build your career in public relations. You may switch along the way, as I and many others have done, but avoid straddling both worlds at once.
At the end of the day, both professions are noble. Journalism builds trust through truth. Public relations builds trust through image management. But trust, once compromised by conflict of interest, is very difficult to regain.
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