1. Quick (but effective) introduction of the personage and his achievements?

My name is Israel GUEBO. Better known as Israel Yoroba. I am a Media Expert and Coach, and specialist in social networks. I am also President of the Génération Innovante association. Furthermore, I am a member of the Bureau of the Network of Online Press Professionals of Ivory Coast, I am in charge of training and self-regulation.

I am a journalist by training and profession, graduated from the Superior School of Journalism of Lille, France.

From my experiences, I keep the most important ones. I trained the press service of the office of the president of the National Assembly, the communication department of the Presidency of the Republic and worked as coordinator of the digital communication for the Ministry of Youth.

From Print to Radio and Web, I have just over 10 years of experience with International Media. For 6 years (2008-2013), I had been a correspondent in Abidjan for the Web editorial of the French channel TV5. As such, I covered the 2008 US elections, the 2010 presidential elections and the subsequent military-political crisis in The Ivory Coast.

Between 2014 and 2017, I was chief editor of the "Studio Mozaik" Radio School, and later Head of the Hemisphère Media Production Office. That is the company that provides correspondence for TF1 in Africa and for France 24 in some countries of West and Central Africa.

For a decade, I have traveled around Francophone Africa to train state institutions. In Togo, Benin, Burundi, Gabon, Guinea... I train Senators and Members of Parliaments for the use of new media in institutional communication. This is taking place as part of the Noria program, initiated by the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly (APF), an institution for which I am a consultant.

I was also a web editor for the France 24 blog. In 2011, I did a brief stint at Radio France Internationale (RFI) on the program "L'atelier des médias". What I was most reknown for was the "Avenues", these local information sites with a presence in several African countries. Besides the Avenues, I launched, in 2013, the first Web Radio of information in Ivory Coast: Class FM (www.classe.fm).

All this earned me several distinctions: Best French Speaking Blogger in 2008 in Bonn, Germany. Best Blog of West African Journalist in 2009 in Dakar, Senegal. Harubuntu Awards Winner in 2011 in Brussels, Belgium. Francophonie  35<35 Prizewinner in the Blog category and Media Innovation Laureate in 2016 in Abidjan, these are the many distinctions obtained by the renowned Ivorian "Blog Trotter".

I saw my name in the Top 4 Most Promising Young People of Ivory Coast in 2016. This ranking was carried out by the Association of Lobbying and Public Affairs Councils of Ivory Coast (ACLAP-CI). In 2017, I created and supervised a media enterprise that won the second prize for the best Ivorian digital press company.

I am also the author of two books: "La Vie Comme Elle Va" (Life As It Goes, Balafons Edition, 2013), a chronicle that describes day-to-day life in the Ivory Coast, and "Compagnie Caïman" (Caiman Company), a novel published by Livresque Edition in October 2016.

 

2. What are your main goals in life?

My main goal is to be a catalyst for change in our generation. It sounds very idealistic, and maybe even utopian when we look at how our countries are evolving. But I remain convinced that each of us, one way or another, can bring his brick to build a different world, a generation with new values. And therefore, I do my best to teach and raise awareness around me. I believe in the power of sharing. It is the best weapon of development.

 

3. What tools and techniques do you use to accomplish things efficiently?

My first tools are my diary and my notepad. These are essential to better organise myself. Plus, I don't have to rely on electricity while using them. Every morning, I list everything I have to do on a page of my notebook. E-mails to send, phone calls to make, appointments (as scheduled on my diary), tasks to complete. Then I cross them out as they are done. At the end of the day, whatever has not been done is postponed to the next page. It's an effective monitoring tool.

Then there are all the Google Drive Apps, to work effectively remotely with my team.

Last but not least, to communicate, there's nothing like Social Media. First my blog (which is being enhanced), then Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are my main communication tools.

 

4. Any recommendations for your juniors?

First advice, keep reading. Sometimes it may sound like a trivial expression. But nope. It's important to read, read a lot. Not just on the internet, but read books, magazines, newspapers. This develops our intellectual faculties, and our culture.

Further, it's great to use search engines thoroughly. Google, in particular. This is an incredible opportunity for our generation. With this tool, you can learn anything.

Finally, my last advice is an attitude in life, it's about remaining humble. Because life is unpredictable, and today's victories must not be considered as final, but they should be a source of motivation to achieve a little more.

 

5. What is the best way to contact you?

The best way is by mail (isyoroba@gmail.com). I read them all the time. Then, the comments sections on my blog. On social networks, I respond to specific messages. However messages starting like "yo", "sup", "baby", etc. will remain unanswered (lol)!

 

 

[Check out Israël, his most relevant writings, as well as other exclusive interviews in The Album]