Ethical issues in internet-based journalism practice in Nigeria

Abstract

The guiding and central narrative of ethical issues in Nigeria is the alarming spread of fake news, hate speech, source credibility, quackery, poor internal censorship and other unwholesome practices resulting to serious ethical issues among internet based journalism platforms in Nigeria. The world has been engulfed in a spectre of fake news and disinformation with less attention to ethically sound reporting that has been the most potent tool for objective journalism across the world. People are more concerned with hot news reporting against balanced reporting where all sides are displayed and this has shown less integrity on media practice.Therefore, this study examines ethical issues in internet based journalism practice in Nigeriaagainst a sprawling fake news syndrome among internet based platforms with a view to examining factors that trigger ethical concerns among internet based journalism practitioners.The study was anchored on the Social Responsibility Theory with focused group discussion guide and key informant interview as instruments for data collection. systematic sampling technique was used in selecting 5,944 registered journalists in Nigeria, media scholars and Nigerian Union of Journalists’ ethics committee drawn from the six geo-political zones, data from discussants were analysed using detailed, orient probes and discussions.Among other findings, the study revealedthat there is a dearth in comprehensive knowledge of media laws because most practitioners are not aware of the legal ramification of certain media practice which must be adhered to in performing key role conceptions of the media, source credibility occasioned by a clearly defined editorial policy would be very useful in addressing ethical issues of fake news and hate speech prevalent among practitioners of internet based journalism platforms in Nigeria and adherence to ethical concerns is being hampered by untrained practitioners parading themselves as media influencers on different internet based journalism platforms.The study recommended that to curb the rising trend of ethical issues among internet based journalism practitioners in Nigeria, there should be a deliberate effort to increase the level of awareness and adherence to media laws in order to create online news platforms devoid of legal issues, strong regulatory framework by government and the Nigerian Union of Journalists to ensure that internet based journalism platforms instill editorial philosophy and constant training and retraining of practitioners of internet based journalism platforms in order to raise the bar against flagrant disregard for ethical principles of journalism.