Last Updated: May 20, 1999
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International Journalism exchange
Two newspapers, different in too many ways to count. The Charleston
Daily Mail, an afternoon daily of about 40,000 circulation in West Virginia’s
capital. Newsroom staff of 50. Anfani, a weekly selling 3,000 copies in
Niger, one of the world’s poorest nations. Staff of seven.
So what can the editor of Anfani teach the editorial staff of the Charleston
Daily Mail? Quite a bit, it turns out.
The bullet scar on his chest made quite an impression, for starters.
Ibbo Daddy Abdoulaye, or Big Dad as he told us to call him, mentioned
it in a story we asked him to write. Later he fielded our questions. We
were humbled as we heard how he was shot helping a fellow student demonstrator
who had been downed by a police gun. That’s what awoke his passion for
journalism.
We felt shallow as we learned of Niger’s struggles against poverty,
illiteracy and political repression and Big Dad’s devotion to covering
them. We’re not sure what he learned from the Daily Mail, but we know what
we got from him: a refresher in journalistic commitment.
His visit was a big hit with the Daily Mail staff, and I think a little
advance work contributed to that success. Before he arrived, I recruited
a reporter to head up a social committee for the exchange. I wanted the
staff to get to know him quickly so all could benefit.
Several reporters — including those who provided Big Dad with
housing — planned ice-breaking activities. They also passed the word among
the staff that we would have a visitor who might like to tag along if anybody
was doing anything interesting after hours.
One reporter hosted an informal gathering one day after work. Another
offered to take him whitewater rafting. A group of Marshall University
fans hauled him off to a football game. On it went.
Even Daily Mail publisher Sam Hindman joined in. He took Big Dad and
several staffers to dinner one night. It was such an enjoyable time that
Hindman had an encore a few days later.
Big Dad’s parting request was for a list of news staff names and pictures,
a sort of yearbook of his stay here. We happily provided him with that
and took his request as a sign that a bond was forged. An exchange scheduled
to last only a month will continue indefinitely.
Friend is managing editor of the Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail.
