By Oliver Mathenge
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”
Those who have watched ‘The Men Who Built America’ are familiar with this quote from American industrialist, business magnate, founder of the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford.
On December 13, 2012, I started a key learning phase in my career as a member of the Star and Radio Africa family.
After this week, I exit this great place after nine fantastic years that have seen me grow from a reporter to an editor, with immeasurable learnings. And with this note, I want to pass my gratitude to this great family that has contributed to my growth as a journalist and an individual.
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Radio Africa is not only a workplace but an oven that allows every individual to bake their journalism career. It is a place of immense opportunities for those who open their eyes and allow themselves to explore the entire world of journalism.
Over the last nine years, I have seen my career grow in a way that I would not have expected and I owe it to all colleagues that I have worked with. I would need more than a single page to mention everyone and the impact that they have had on my career and life.
But I will not do that here for I just want to use this opportunity to thank you all for each action and reaction that made my work here memorable and successful.
I wouldn't have achieved what I have here if it were not for the support from each of you.
The growth we have experienced together especially on digital in the last five years was never a one-man show and I thank all who bought into the overall vision that we have been seeking to achieve.
My parting shot to all of us is that we have to keep learning to fit in the fast-changing calling that is modern journalism.
We have to get out of our comfort zone to ensure that we, through emerging technologies, give our audiences what they want and need and not what is convenient for us.
We may fail often but we are likely to succeed more by dusting ourselves and focusing on how to achieve more.
Finally, I remind us all that we have a great duty to this country and the entire humanity.
The world is always a better place when journalists focus on their key duty of upholding the truth. We are not in the business of soothing egos or seeking balance to force objectivity.
Our duty is to the truth as that is the thing that humanity needs the most. Colleagues, again, this is not a goodbye but a see you later.
For now, I sign out from Lion Place!
Oliver Mathenge is the immediate former Digital Editor at Radio Africa and will be joining Nation Media Group
