SimeonOlanrewaju Sodimu
@simeonolanrewajusodimu
1 year ago
Challenges Faced by Journalists and recommendations:-
By: Olanrewaju Sodimu
Journalism is an important Profession that seeks to hold the Government accountable to the people through objective reportage. It also informs, educate, entertain and enlightens the public about happenings in their environment and globally.
In Nigeria, and just like any other third world countries, several factors have often hindered the growth of journalism profession; they include but not limited to:
a) Poor Remuneration of Journalist: The reward for practitioners of the journalism profession is so abysmal and this often affect their morale and courage to give objective reportage and thus often make them susceptible to corruption.
b) Non Adherence to Freedom of Press: Journalist are often victimized, harassed and sometimes killed in the course of their work, this therefore posses as another challenge to the media profession.
c) Poor Infrastructure:- Poor road network and other insufficient amenities also affects the practice of journalism in Nigeria and elsewhere, as journalist are unable to reach the point of event as at necessary, for objective coverage.
d) Obstruction to Information:- Government often times prevent journalist from accessing certain information which help to enrich public interests for political reasons. This also affects the practice of journalism in Nigeria.
e) Casualisation of staff in the media industry:- This is common within the media circle where journalists are engaged on a casual basis more than the time necessary. This may however be counter productive.
Recommendations therefore:
a) Improvement on the welfare of Journalist:- This involves upward reviews of salaries and emoluments of Journalists in the Public and Private Sector to improve their productivity.
b) Adherence to Press Freedom:- Policy makers are expected togrant Freedom to media practitioner, inorder for them to give the public an informed and objective news.
c) Access to Information:- Policy makers should at all time, not prevent media practitioners and journalist from accessing information needed to make informed and objective reportage to the public.
d) Improved Infrastructure:- Infrastructures, especially road infrastructures should be improved upon to enable journalists access events and happenings for adequate coverage.
e) Abolishment of Casualisation of workers:- The media entrepreneurs should endeavor to ratify the employment of their casualised work force inorder to put an end to Casualisation of workers. This indeed will boost the morales of Journalists for increased productivity.
The journalism profession is a noble one, which the people depend on for information and objective and unbiased news, especially in holding the Government accountable to the people, efforts should therefore be made to remove all obstacles and challenges hindering the growth of the profession.
