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HAZARDS OF JOURNALISM PRACTICE IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was intended to examine hazards of journalism practice in Nigeria. This study was guided by the following objectives; to examine the media hazards of journalism profession; to ascertain if journalists encounter hazards in news gathering and reporting; to find out the media hazards facing journalists in Nigeria; to determine if hazards have effects on the performance of journalists in Tell magazine and to examine the prospects of journalism practice in Nigeria. The study employed the descriptive and explanatory design; questionnaires in addition to library research were applied in order to collect data. Primary and secondary data sources were used and data was analyzed using the chi square statistical tool at 5% level of significance which was presented in frequency tables and percentage. The respondents under the study were 100 journalists in Rivers state, Nigeria. The study findings revealed that journalists in Nigeria encounter hazards in news gathering and reporting; based on the findings from the study, Media houses should not sacrifice the truth on the altars of partisanship or profit-making or any other selfish ends.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Journalism is the collection and editing of current interest for presentation through news media. It could also be regarded as the event of the day to day activities with the uses of words, sounds or pictures to satisfy human curiosity with a word that is always interested in knowing what is new. The introduction of journalism and its media are electronic and print which have reduced a lot of ignorance from the society because form the observation both print and electronic media journalist disseminate to the public.

The journalists are those that practice journalism. They are they who will gather the news from the public and send it back the public also. Mike Jampson, director of UK journalism ethics charity media wise, called for The Daily Telegraph to reveal whether it paid for the computer disc leaked to it containing information about British MP5 expenses claims. He was addressing a media professionals work stream on Investigative journalism- a two edged sword on 25 July during a conference on ‘trust and integrity in the global economy’ held in Caux, Switzerland. Sometime investigative journalism that reveals wrong doings may involve breaking the law, he said and the telegraph should be ready to defend itself in court if the material had been obtained by unlawful means. 

The paper had properly published a series of scoops on the scandal of MPs systematic abuse of their expenses claims. It was in the public interest and no jury would convict the paper, he believed. Mps who were supposed to get an example were behaving irresponsibly and lawfully.” The scoops had changed the political agenda and thinking, which will never be the same again, Jempson said, none the less journalists too have to accept the consequences of their actions.

Therefore, this research is to let people and the general public to know the level at which the hazard of journals or problem of journalism has been existing in countries especially in Nigeria.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This is a research that is based on hazard of journalism with a particular reference on Nigeria. In the course of this research, it will help the general public to receive information write ups and presentation and gathering of fact from the society, people and individual at large. It will also discuss the hazard in journalism and career opportunities for journalist.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In order to arrive at a certain and logical conclusion and provide a concrete and genuine answer to a certain research question. This work is to provide answer to the following fundamental research question.

i.  How can we eradicate Hazard in journalism?

ii.  To what extent do you agree that Hazard affects Journalism practice in Nigeria?

iii.  To what extent do you agree that Journalist can avoid hazard in Journalism?

iv.  To what extent do you agree that Hazard in journalism affects Journalist in Nigeria?

REASON FOR THE STUDY

This is to make the entire people of Nigeria to know what journalist are going through as a result of gathering facts, news in their working field. The difficulties and problems they are facing and also to give recommendation on how to solve those problems. As much as it affects the most entire publics and journalist.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this project work lies on the problem journalist are passing through on their field. The hazard and how to tackle them especially this problem. In doing this, it will enable the people to know how the problem can be solved.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study relates to the problem which journalist are passing through as a result of practicing journalism as a profession. The scope can also be called the hazard. The difficulty, the researcher also examines the hazards and find accurate solution to the problems so as to encourage the upcoming journalist who are in practicing it not to be panicking when they face problems at place of work.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The demanding schedule of respondents made it very difficult getting the respondents to participate in the survey. As a result, retrieving copies of questionnaire in timely fashion was very challenging. Also, the researcher is a student and therefore has limited time as well as resources in covering extensive literature available in conducting this research. Information provided by the researcher may not hold true for all but is restricted to the selected respondents used as a study in this research especially in the locality where this study is being conducted. Finally, the researcher is restricted only to the evidence provided by the participants in the research and therefore cannot determine the reliability and accuracy of the information provided. Other limitations include:

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

This project work does not discourage the journalist, but to help in journalism in Nigeria and to find way in curbing the deviant behaviour in journalism. This research work will also disclose the bad habit of journalist; this project does not discourage a political journalist or journalist in future, but to teach them the ethics of the profession.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Journalism: Ewuola (2001:1) defines the term journalism as the collection and editing of materials of current interest for presentation through news media. Journalism is concerned with giving out information to an audience on regular basis. Therefore, journalism is sharing of information and idea using a suitable channel of communication. It is also the ability to comfort, reassure and satisfy the human frailty through the entertainment page; it is also about people getting information on what is new, interesting and passing such information to their neighbors.

Journalist: Journalist can be described as the intermediary between the citizen and the government, to receive and transmitting information to the people in needs. Journalist is also a person that is involved in the operation of gathering and disseminating of information through the appropriate medium. Journalist could be referred to as a person, whose primary occupation is to gathering, writing, editing and transmitting of information or control events to the publics. He usually works for news medium. This definition leaves out many personnel involved in the mass communication such as advertising and Public Relations men and several party time contributors ranging from stringers who provide routing coverage of minor news basis into intellectuals who contribute to the culture or health page of great dallies.

Media journalism: As noted by Longman Dictionary (1984) says “journalism is the collecting and editing of materials of current interest for presentation through news media”. In this view, the materials that have been collected and edited must be present through a suitable channel or medium, we have two types of media which a journalist can use to disseminate or pass across his news or idea; these are print and electronic media.

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