ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE ON MEDIA ETHICS COMPROMISE AMONG MEDIA PROFESSIONALS IN EDO AND DELTA STATES OF NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study is focused on assessing “The role of social media influence on media ethics compromise among media professionals in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria”. It aimed at finding out the level of influence social media has on media professionals in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria, determining if social media influence has a role in media ethics compromise among media professionals in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria and assessing the extent to which social media influence has compromised media ethics among journalists in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria. For its theoretical framework, the study adopted the gate keeping and social responsibility theory to further buttress the point of the study. While the survey research method was used to gather the data used for the study. Findings of the study revealed that social media has influenced the way media practitioners in Edo and Delta States deliver their jobs to a high extent. Findings also revealed that spread of misinformation is a major challenge faced by media professionals in maintaining their ethical standards in the face of social media influence. The researcher therefore concluded that efforts should be made to leverage social media influence in a positive and ethical way. The researcher recommended that Media practitioners should use social media to promote transparency and accountability within their organizations. The researcher also recommended that media professionals must take their responsibility for fact-checking and verifying information seriously.