Journal de communication de masse et de journalisme

The Battle for Professionalism in Journalism in Nigeria amidst Unethical Practices

Abstract

Andrew Ali Ibbi

Without the professional touch, the art of gathering and dissemination of news can be done by anybody. However, because of the nature of the audience who the information is meant for, it has become important that a professional should be there to put the piece of information together for public consumption, bearing in mind their diversities. The advent of the Internet has seen news evolve from the newsroom to the smartphones of almost everybody. Citizen journalism has thrown a big challenge to professional journalism today. In a country like Nigeria where politicians have turned media organizations as organs of propaganda, it is becoming difficult to distinguish a professional journalist from a praise singer. This paper intends to look at the practice of journalism from the Nigerian perspective. Such unethical practices like “brown envelope” (money given in exchange for objectivity), government and ownership influence will be the focus of this paper, citing practical examples. The paper will make use of the Utilitarian Theory of Ethics and the Social Responsibility Theory of the press