Nigerian Journalists’ Perception of Corruption in the Nation, the Media and among Journalists
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study investigated Nigerian journalists’ perceptions of corruption, focusing on their views of national corruption, corruption within the media, and their self-perception regarding corrupt practices. The study was guided by the Critical Political Economy of the Media Theory, which highlights the influence of social factors and economic interests on media operations. A survey methodology was employed, using a structured questionnaire administered to 158 journalists in Plateau State, Nigeria. The findings reveal a strong consensus among journalists that corruption is deeply entrenched and culturally normalised in Nigeria, posing a major obstacle to national development. Within the media sector, corruption is also perceived as widespread. Journalists acknowledged the presence of unethical practices such as monetary inducements. The study reinforces existing literature on the structural enablers of corruption in the media, including poor remuneration, ownership structures, and political interference. Based on the results, the study recommends ethics training, improved working conditions, internal monitoring systems, independent media ownership reforms, and enhanced support for investigative journalism to strengthen media integrity and accountability.
Downloads
Article Details
Section
How to Cite
References
Aderogba, A. (2013). Nigerian media and corrupt practices: The need for paradigm shift. European Scientific Journal, 9(1), 119–130. https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj
Agbu, O. (2003), “Corruption and Human Trafficking: The Nigerian Case”, West African Review 4(1) 1 – 13 https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.832
Ahmed, K. A., Abdulbaqi, S. S., & Aliagan, I. Z. (2020). Corruption in the media: Implications for ethical and socially responsible journalism. Jurnal Pengajian Media Malaysia, 22(2), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.22452/jpmm.vol22no2.4
Ahmed, K. A., Abdulbaqi, S. S., & Adisa, R. M. (2019). Anti-corruption campaigns and Nigeria development: An appraisal of media roles. Acta Universitatis Danubius Communicatio, 13(2), 99−116.
Ahmed, K. A., & Adisa, R. M. (2018). Journalists’ perceptions on determinants of corruption news framing. e-Academia Journal, 7(1), academiauitmt.uitm.edu.my/v2/index.php/home.html 171–185. http://journale
Ahva, L. (2022). Socially responsible journalism. In The Routledge companion to news and journalism (pp. 352–361). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003174790-42
Aja, S. U., Chukwu, J. N., Obichili, M. I., Odoh, V. O., Ngene, I. A., & Opara, N. (2024). Perception and practice of the watchdog role among journalists in Nigeria. Journal of African Media Studies, 16(2), 217–236. https://doi.org/10.1386/jams_00122_1
Akanle, O., & Nkpe, D. O. (2021). Corruption and development in Nigeria. Corruption and Development in Nigeria, 11, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003178637-1
Akanle, O., Otomi, O. A., Chinenye, N. G., & Adejare, G. S. (2021). Media and corruption Corruption and Development in Nigeria, 11. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003178637-9
Apuke, D. O. (2016). The Nigerian journalists’ knowledge and perceptions of brown envelope syndrome on journalism practice: A study of journalists in Jalingo Metropolis. International Journal of Humanities & Social Science Studies, 3(2), 319–334. http://www.ijhsss.com
Carlson, M., & Lewis, S. C. (Eds.). (2015). Boundaries of journalism: Professionalism, practices and participation (1st ed.). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315727684
Dipierro, A. R., & Rella, A. (2024). What lies behind perceptions of corruption? A cultural approach. Social Indicators Research, 172, 371–391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205 023-03294-4
Folarin, S. F. (2021). Corruption, politics and governance in Nigeria. In Corruption and governance in Africa (pp. 125–162). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50509 7_21 Governance Social Development Resource Centre (GSDRC). 2010. Access to Information and Its Constraints. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/topic-guides/communications andgovernance/access-to-information--and-its-constraints
Griffin, E. A., Ledbetter, A., & Sparks, G. G. (2018). A first look at communication theory (10th ed.).
McGraw-Hill. Hamada, I. B. (2020). Journalism and corruption: Toward a hierarchical universal theory of determinants. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93026 Hardy, J. (2014). Critical political economy of the media: An introduction. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203136225
Hardy, J. (2023). Political economy and critical studies of advertising and media industries. In Political economy of media and communication (pp. 180–200). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003385516-15
Herrero-Jiménez, B., Berganza, R., & Ortiz-González, A. (2024). Journalists’ perception of the threats and risks of corruption in institutions and the media. El Profesional de la Información, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2024.0002
Ifejika, S. I. (2023). Corruption in the new public procurement regime in Nigeria. Journal of Anti-Corruption Law, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.14426/jacl.v2i1.1280
Jin, D. Y. (2018). Political economy of the media. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.551
Jones, J. S., & Goldring, J. (2021). Exploratory and descriptive statistics. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.413/9781529682786
Kanyane, M. (2024). Corruption prevention in Botswana and South Africa. In Corruption, ethics, governance in https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003474616-7 South Africa (pp. Mosco, V. (2015). The political economy of communication: A living tradition. In L. A. Albornoz (Ed.), Power, media, culture.https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137540089_2
Musa, M., & Antwi-Boateng, O. (2023). Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The of Nigeria. Cogent https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2244153 Social Sciences, 9(2).
Nzeaka, E. E., Ehondor, B., & Edosonwan, A. (2022). Media and endemic corruption in Nigeria: A scrutiny of the role of the print media in the war against corruption. International Journal of Development and https://doi.org/10.4314/ijdmr.v17i1.11 Management Review, 17(1), 174–192.
Odionye, M., Yare, M., & Odionye, C. (2021). Coverage of corruption cases in Nigerian newspapers and magazines and print editors’ perception about the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
OECD. (2018). The role of the media and investigative journalism in combating corruption. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. www.oecd.org/corruption/The-role-of-media-and-investigative-journalism-in combatingcorruption.htm
Olajide, I. F., & Fanawopo, B. A. (2023). Journalists’ perception of Nigeria's media influence in entrenching good governance and accountability. International Journal of Management, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies (IJMSSPCS), 6(1), 211–224.
Ristow, B., 2010. Cash for Coverage: Bribery of Journalists Around the World. http://cima.ned.org/sites/default/files/CIMA-Bribery_of_JournalistsReport.pdf.
Shodunke, A. O. (2023). Protection or predation? Examining COVID-19 policing and the nuances of police corruption in Nigeria. Policing and Society, 33(9), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2023.2285790
Spence, H., (2008). Corruption in the Media. International Journal of Applied Philosophy, 22 no.1: 231-241. http://secure.pdcnet.org/ijap/content/ijap_2008_0022_0002_0231_0 241
Starke, C., Naab, T. K., & Scherer, H. (2016). Free to expose corruption: The impact of media freedom, internet access, and governmental online service delivery on corruption. International Journal of Communication, 10, 4702–4722. http://ijoc.org Transparency International. 2010/2011. Global Corruption Barometer. http://gcb.transparency.org/gcb201011/results/ Transparency International. 2003. Global Corruption Report 2003, http://archive.transparency.org/publications/gcr/gcr_2003#download
Yusha’u, M. J. (2018). Corruption scandals and intranational framework for media systems research in Africa. Regional Parallelism and Corruption Scandals in Nigeria. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96220-7_1
Musa, M., & Antwi-Boateng, O. (2023). Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The of Nigeria. Cogent https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2244153 Social Sciences, 9(2).
Nzeaka, E. E., Ehondor, B., & Edosonwan, A. (2022). Media and endemic corruption in Nigeria: A scrutiny of the role of the print media in the war against corruption. International Journal of Development and https://doi.org/10.4314/ijdmr.v17i1.11 Management Review, 17(1), 174–192.
Odionye, M., Yare, M., & Odionye, C. (2021). Coverage of corruption cases in Nigerian newspapers and magazines and print editors’ perception about the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
OECD. (2018). The role of the media and investigative journalism in combating corruption. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. www.oecd.org/corruption/The-role-of-media-and-investigative-journalism-incombatingcorruption.html
Olajide, I. F., & Fanawopo, B. A. (2023). Journalists’ perception of Nigeria's media influence in entrenching good governance and accountability. International Journal of Management, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies (IJMSSPCS), 6(1), 211–224.
Ristow, B., 2010. Cash for Coverage: Bribery of Journalists Around the World. http://cima.ned.org/sites/default/files/CIMA-Bribery_of_JournalistsReport.pdf.
Shodunke, A. O. (2023). Protection or predation? Examining COVID-19 policing and the nuances of police corruption in Nigeria. Policing and Society, 33(9), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2023.2285790
Spence, H., (2008). Corruption in the Media. International Journal of Applied Philosophy, 22 no.1: 231-241. http://secure.pdcnet.org/ijap/content/ijap_2008_0022_0002_0231_0 241
Starke, C., Naab, T. K., & Scherer, H. (2016). Free to expose corruption: The impact of media freedom, internet access, and governmental online service delivery on corruption. International Journal of Communication, 10, 4702–4722. http://ijoc.org
Transparency International. 2010/2011. Global Corruption Barometer. http://gcb.transparency.org/gcb201011/results/ Transparency International. 2003. Global Corruption Report 2003, http://archive.transparency.org/publications/gcr/gcr_2003#download
Yusha’u, M. J. (2018). Corruption scandals and intranational framework for media systems research in Africa. Regional Parallelism and Corruption Scandals in Nigeria. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96220-7_1
Yusuf, U. A. (2014). Causes and effects of corruption in Nigeria. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management (United Kingdom), 2(4), 1–10. http://ijecm.co.uk/
Nzeaka, E., Ehondor, B., & Edosomwan, A. (2022). Media and endemic corruption in Nigeria: A scrutiny of the role of the print media in the war against corruption. International Journal of Development and Management https://doi.org/10.4314/ijdmr.v17i1.11