ETHICAL CHALLENGES OF PACK JOURNALISM PHENOMENON AND THE IMPLICATION ON JOURNALISM PRACTICE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined journalists’ knowledge and perception of the ethical challenges of pack journalism and its implication for journalism practice in Nigeria. The paper adopted social responsibility theory which established that media has a duty to serve the public interest by providing accurate and unbiased information, promoting democratic values, and holding those in power accountable. It employed a qualitative in-depth interview using a purposive sampling technique where 20 journalists and other media practitioners were selected from 6 chapels within Jalingo metropolis. Findings of the study revealed that poor remuneration and greed are the major causes of the brown envelope syndrome in Nigeria which makes journalists and media organizations to engage in pack journalism majorly to satisfy the interest of the sources of news. The paper also noted that this ignoble practice influences journalism practice negatively as some important issues are downplayed while unimportant ones are exaggerated in a bid to satisfy the givers of these brown envelopes. The paper concluded that engaging in pack journalism is an unethical and unprofessional conduct that must be discouraged and stopped as the phenomenon makes journalists not to be objective and truthful. The paper recommended among others, that media professional bodies should be serious in maintaining ethics in the media industry by sanctioning defaulting journalists in order to ensure highest professional conduct of members in all situations.