THE NIGERIAN JOURNALISTS AND THE DEBACLE OF MEDIA ETHICS.

ABSTRACT

The study examined the Nigerian journalists and the debacle of media ethics by using journalists in Edo State as the case study. The study examined the role of professionalism in journalism practice in Nigerian media landscape; determined what journalists perceive as factors responsible for an ethical dilemma in their professional practice; find out how corruption and interference by government and media agencies have affected the practice of journalism in Edo State; and determined the role of professional bodies in curbing the challenges of media ethics in Edo State journalism. The study was anchored on the field theory and the social theory of journalism. The population of study comprise of 254 registered journalists in Edo State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research method; a total of 152 registered journalists participated in the study through a random sampling procedure. Questionnaires were adopted as the research instrument in gathering relevant information for the research proceedings. The findings revealed that keeping clear of corrupt practices, displaying the spirit of facts retraction when wrong and burying personal bias were the role of professionalism in journalism practice in Nigerian media landscape. The study findings also demonstrated that lack of skilled and competent media practitioners, poor renumeration of salary and a lack of self-worth were factors responsible for an ethical dilemma in their professional practice. In addition, the findings indicated that the role of professional bodies in curbing the challenges of media ethics in Edo State journalism is to allow only graduates in journalism practice, training and retaining of journalists should be available and there should be improved journalists’ welfare to boost their self-worth. The study recommends that media professional bodies should be serious in maintaining ethics in the media industry by sanctioning defaulting journalists to ensure that journalism practitioners adhere to laid down codes of practice.