RISKS AND CHALLENGES OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM: A NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

New media and communication technologies have had a significant impact on news operations and production, and as a result, journalism as an industry and profession has changed. In human history, we have never been more connected, exhibiting the benefits of a new, exciting digital age. As a result, this research investigated the dangers and obstacles that Nigerian media professionals confront in this new era, as well as how technological advancements have influenced their work. The objectives are to: identify the main challenges facing professional journalism in Nigeria, identify the risk taken in professional journalism as well to examine the media act of Nigeria. The study was anchored on the Authoritarian theory of the press. The research design for this study was an in depth interview. Thirty journalists from Abuja's media houses are among the study's discussants. The study drew a sample of 30 journalists from the specified media organizations using the purposive sampling technique. The investigation discovered many issues concerning the safety and professionalism of journalists. Journalists and editors in the media are frequently placed in perplexing and dangerous situations that jeopardize the ethical and legal process of news generation and delivery. This study, therefore, concluded that journalism in Nigeria requires a second look to improve its current performance and safety.