How Eric Njoka's CNN Training Chance Was Unceremoniously Taken Away

16 September 2024

• Njoka currently works at Zee Media Corporation Limited, India's largest news network.

Former K24 journalist Eric Njoka recently shared his experience of losing a significant career opportunity due to being unexpectedly short-changed.

He had been accepted into a fully-funded 5-year CNN training program, but the chance was revoked just as he was about to depart.

Although this was a disappointing turn of events, Njoka views the experience as a pivotal moment that unexpectedly altered his path.

Njoka took to social media to share his thoughts, saying: "I decided to share this because I want to encourage others: 'NEVER STOP, KEEP GOING, NO MATTER WHAT.' Life often hands us challenges, and we need to make the best out of them—there’s no other choice. I missed out on a major opportunity that could have advanced my career significantly, but human nature is such that some felt it should have been theirs instead. This incident became a major turning point in my life. It's tough to forgive and even harder to forget, which is why I’ve never talked about it until now."

He recounted the incident from 2011 when he was unexpectedly selected for the esteemed CNN Journalism Fellowship.

His career at the TV station was on an upward trajectory, and though he tried to stay cautious about his excitement, he was thrilled about the chance.

He had received a 5-year multiple-entry visa to the USA and was ready for this new adventure, which was also a source of great pride for his late mother. With everything prepared, including his travel documents, he was all set for his first trip outside Kenya.

However, Njoka's plans changed abruptly. "Just before my flight, I received an urgent message from the organizers saying they had received instructions from my office manager to cancel my trip and retrieve all documents. The communication from my office was reportedly rude and unprofessional, leading to the cancellation of my fellowship opportunity."

Reflecting on his reaction, Njoka admitted, "I stayed composed and told my family I needed to go to the embassy while I tried to contact my 'supervisors' to understand what had happened. They avoided me for weeks, leaving me devastated and embarrassed. Watching my mother’s distress was particularly painful. It’s a long story, but 'life must go on,' right?"