Journalism Practice and New Media: An Exploratory Analysis of Journalism Culture and Practice in Nigeria

Abstract

For many years, Western media theories and journalism practices have been the hallmark of the journalism profession in Africa. However, the globalised nature of our world which has become interconnected and interdependent, spawned by increasing technological changes, underlines the importance of analysing journalism practices and new media in Nigeria from a global perspective. Theories of the present global media ecology have therefore, become unsustainable and unsatisfactory (Cottle, Global Crisis Reporting: Journalism in the Global Age, Open University Press, Maidenhead, 2009). Globalisation opens up the opportunity to study journalism practice and culture as a hybrid (McMillin, International Media Studies, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 2007), hence the need for a definition of journalism that can reflect and accommodate the global political differences and culture (Wasserman and de Beer, The Handbook of Journalism Studies, Routledge, New York, 2009).

Research in journalism studies around the world consistently highlights the existence of similarities and differences across cultures which signify the natural diversities in our world. Previous studies on journalism ethics and routines, including editorial conventions in the United States, Europe and Africa show similarities, while other studies have also shown that there are differences in the way journalists from various countries sees their roles when making news judgements in their professional callings (Hanusch, Journalism Studies 9(3):341–356, 2008a). Drawing from educational, cultural, social, economic and political factors that distinguish journalistic practices in various societies and cultures, this paper will employ Sociology of news and technological determinism theories, as conceptualised by different scholars.

A number of issues have thus remained underexplored. For one, can we assume there is anything like ‘African journalism’? How do Nigerian journalists perceive their roles in digital cultures? This study examines the issue of journalistic ethics and culture in Nigeria by exploring the issue of freedom of the press, independence, impartiality, fair play, decency, accuracy, journalism education and responsibility in the age of the internet. To this end, a descriptive survey and in-depth interviews with reporters and editors is explored.