HINDRANCES TO EFFECTIVE JOURNALISM PRACTICE IN NIGERIA

Joseph Obi Ngwokor; Oluwaseun Oghogho Odeghe & Gabriel Nanchwat Lombin

ABSTRACT

Journalistic freedom is one that is considered important for an effective media in any democracy. In like manner, press freedom is entrenched in the constitutions of most democratic societies but what is worrisome is that, almost always, journalists are not granted access to information they desire to function properly. This is what necessitated this study: “Hindrances to Effective Journalism Practice in Nigeria”, in order to find out the factors responsible for the ugly incidence of journalists’ inaccessibility to information. Adopting the descriptive research method; and anchored on the Libertarian Media Theory, the paper concluded that despite the fact that press freedom is a constitutional one, journalists are not free in the performance of their avowed obligation of feeding the public with the information they need to make right decisions– politically, economically and otherwise. The paper recommended among other things that government should allow the media (press) complete freedom to enable them do better in their job; and that those practitioners who require additional training to make them perform optimally should be sent for refresher courses through the attendance of workshops and seminars.