News anchor Eric Njoka has narrated how he lost an opportunity to join the prestigious CNN fellowship program after a last-minute message from his former bosses.
In a statement shared on Friday, Njoka narrated how he had all arrangements set for him to travel to the United States (US) before he got a message that he would no longer be travelling to start a new chapter in his journalism career.
The message he received read, “We got a call from your office manager directing Turner Studios to cancel your trip and to recall every documentation presented to us. We have tried our best to discuss this and come to an agreement but the response we received was rude, abrasive, and unbecoming. We regret to inform you that your fellowship opportunity has been rejected and deferred.”
The opportunity, according to Njoka, came in 2011 when he was abruptly chosen to attend the much-acclaimed CNN Journalism Fellowship.
At the time, Njoka was at his prime days in his career and saw the CNN opportunity as an ideal step.
“Before, I could turn-in to prepare for the flight the next day, I get a frantic text from the organizers “Urgently check email, change of plans” … “We got a call from your office manager directing Turner Studios to cancel your trip and to recall every documentation presented to us,” read the statement in part.
Turner Studios disclosed that they did their best to reason with Njoka’s former boss to no avail.
“We have tried our best to discuss this and come to an agreement but the response we received was rude, abrasive and unbecoming. We regret to inform you that your fellowship opportunity has been rejected and deferred,” Njoka stated while quoting the message he received from the US-based media.
Njoka had to hide these events from his family and tried to call his bosses for clarification. However, none of his superiors responded and they avoided him for the following three weeks.
“I lost such a huge opportunity which could have added a few miles to my career path, but humans being humans, and always being selfish that it should have been them, instead of me, turned out to be the biggest turning point in my life,” Njoka added.
“I was devastated, I was humiliated, I felt dejected, but the most hurtful sight was to see my Mom, just break. That will never leave me.”
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Who Is Eric Njoka?
Eric Njoka is a news anchor at Zee Media Corporation Limited. He is a multi-talented journalist with skills in storytelling, video production, and new media. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a Diploma in Social Communication from Tangaza College-Catholic University.
Njoka has also worked at K24 and KTN as a news anchor.
He has more than 14 years of experience in broadcast journalism and has worked for two international news organizations, CGTN and currently at WION. He currently covers politics, current affairs, and international and continental diplomacy.
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What Is the CNN Journalism Fellowship Eric Njoka Was to Attend?
The CNN Journalism Fellowship is a programme designed to upskill journalists through developing skills, providing connections, and offering opportunities.
Fellowships offer fresh graduates and journalists resources to focus on detailed storytelling to create truthful, compelling stories. The CNN Journalism Fellowship is among the popular fellowships driven journalists look out for.
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