Journalism in Nigeria: 150 Years and Still Struggling

Journalism in Nigeria recently clocked a landmark 150 years, yet the practice leaves so much to be desired. Buki Oyedemi, in this piece, takes a look at an industry that is very much struggling.

Laide Omidokun is a secondary school leaver who is waiting to get admitted into the university. Although he has had to stay at home for two consecutive years as he is yet to secure admission into his course of choice, Laide has refused to attend the school of journalism where he passed the entrance examination. Not too different is the story of 36 years old Linda Obiwon who, after waiting to get admission to study Medicine for four years without success, had to make journalism her last resort as all hope to study her career of choice seemed lost.
These scenarios are no doubt common place among young Nigerians. Taking a census will show that many of those practicing journalism today, and probably loving it, did not set out to become journalists. For many, it is a career of chance. And that explains a lot of the anomalies associated with the practice in Nigeria. In 150 years of journalism in Nigeria, the story has not changed much. The question therefore is: What is wrong with the practice of journalism in Nigeria and what can be done to attract brilliant, budding professionals to the field?

The Issues
One of the issues that scare people away from journalism is the risk involved. In trying to get detailed, factual and balanced reportage, journalists continually nose around for information which exposes them to high levels of risk that could cost their lives.
During the military era, many journalists were jailed while some lost their lives. In 1990, Tayo Awotunsin of Daily Champion and Krees Imodibe of The Guardian Newspapers, two budding Nigerian journalists, died while covering the Liberian war. Godwin Agbroko, Chairman, Editorial Board, ThisDay newspaper, was murdered in December 2006. Also, Bayo Ohu of The Guardian was killed at home in the presence of his kids! Despite these recurring murders, none of the culprits has been brought to book. This shows that violence against journalists remains extremely high and no one seems to be doing anything about it. While many do not mind the risks, they ask: what for? Why would one be killed and forgotten like the wind?
Speaking to M2 on the issue, Jola Ogunlusi, 1st Executive National Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), points out that before people take personal risks for their profession, they need to be insured against calamity. For instance, in other climes, if a journalist has to travel by road on professional assignment, he has to be insured against risks including accidents or robbery attacks. But very few Nigerian media houses have such policies. So, more often than not, journalists submit themselves to fate and pray that nothing bad happens.
On another hand, part of the problem is that many people see journalists as paupers who go about seeking cheap money. Others believe that journalists cannot earn good money until after many years in the practice when they must have become veterans to reckon with. This calls attention to the issue of remuneration. Is the journalist adequately compensated for his labour? Does his take home pay really take him home? The condition of service for journalists in Nigeria remains an issue requiring utmost attention.
It is in line with this that NUJ has formed a committee that will look into the condition of service of journalists, including the development of an insurance scheme in association with media houses. According to Mallam Mohammed Garba, President, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the committee’s terms of reference includes how to ensure regular payment of remuneration to journalists.
Before 1977, no media house would agree to sit with the NUJ to discuss staff welfare. Following the introduction of the Condition of Service Scheme in 1988, unions started entering into negotiation with the management of media houses. Some problems arose. There are private media houses that can afford to pay more than government media houses, but staff of the latter get pension after they retire. However in private media houses, once the journalist is paid his monthly wage, he has no pension to look forward to.
Even while a journalist might not get pension, it is expected that his salary will be paid regularly while in active service. This is not the case with most media houses in Nigeria. On many occasions, the NUJ has had to picket media houses that owe staff salaries for many months. Even after closed door meetings with the NUJ, many of the organisations are still defaulting.
Recently, NUJ was at logger heads with the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) because the union refused to publish the names of media houses that owe staff salaries. Speaking with M2, Mr Ahaoma Kanu, a journalist who is also a volunteer for the Down Syndrome Association of Nigeria, reasons that with so much controversy over journalists’ rightful compensation, people are not so eager to venture into a profession where you literally have to fight for everything. It is against the backdrop of these oddities that many journalists decide to cut corners, giving rise to a crop of mediocre journalists.
Another problem that people point to in the industry is the culture of ‘brown envelopes’. But according to a magazine editor who asked for anonymity, “It might be a little complex nowadays to clearly delineate what amounts to ‘brown envelopes’. For one, it will be difficult for a journalist who has not been paid in three months to resist the temptation to “kill” a story in exchange for money. Again, what moral justification does a media house that pays less than the minimum wage of a civil servant on an irregular basis have to demand that staff should not collect welfare packages when offered?” These are issues that will remain topical in the Nigerian media any day. It is an issue many professionals would rather not discuss.

Conclusion
First, media experts insist that due consideration must be given to the conditions of service in media houses. Given the nature of the job, compensation must be commensurate with the risks involved. In Cairo, Egypt, journalists are paid a percentage of the basic salary as risk allowance. Before journalists go to cover stories in dangerous zones such as war torn areas, they are given special allowances to cater for their welfare and they are also insured. This culture needs to be replicated in Nigeria because of the rippling effects it could trigger. When the journalist knows that he is well compensated, he will not mind going the extra mile to get juicy stories that will sell his medium. Otherwise, he will just scratch the surface and leave other details for the more ambitious to do.
In the past, the International Association of Journalists (IOJ) afforded Nigerian journalists opportunity to enhance their international exposure via European tours. Such trips were jointly sponsored by the journalist and his organisation. The NUJ also partnered with Al Barka airlines for membership rebates to Bulgaria, Lake Valentine and Hungary. But now, all these have been cancelled making journalism seem uninteresting. Such initiatives should be revisited.
TV stations such as CNN show that journalism has gone beyond presenting straight news; journalists probe deeper to get exclusives. Adequate funding will enhance creativity and encourage the journalist to pursue other dimensions to stories for his medium.
After 10 years, Lagos State is set to herald a new dawn with the decision of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) to pass the Freedom of Information Bill into law. Already, the bill, sponsored by Majority Leader, Mr. Kolawole Taiwo, has passed through the first reading.
If the LSHA, as promised by its speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, gives the FoI Bill the urgent attention it requires, journalists and Nigerians in Lagos would be legally empowered to seek information, especially from official sources.
Meanwhile, a similar bill has been waiting to receive attention at the National Assembly for several years now. While media practitioners waited to see the bill signed into law, Honourable Abike Dabiri sponsored the Nigerian Press and Practice of Journalism Council Bill, which many experts have described as obnoxious. Stakeholders and journalists have criticized the bill, saying it would not serve the interest of the Nigerian press, rather preferring that the National Assembly give attention to the FoI Bill which has been lying on the floor of the house for several years. The direction taken by the House on these issues will definitely have far reaching implications for the journalism profession in Nigeria in the years ahead.
No doubt, journalism is meant for the strong and ambitious. But if the terrain remains rough, the brave could get tired someday. Journalism in Nigeria is 150 years old and, like some other younger professions in the country, journalists are faced with daunting challenges, principally in the areas of access to information, poor working conditions, and poor remuneration.
It is hoped that with the efforts being made by professional associations like NUJ, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and NPAN, along with the regulatory authorities, the necessary regulatory framework will be put in place to ensure that the profession moves to the next level.