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.
