Are journalists truly safe? Communicating the Risks Faced by Investigative Journalists in Nigeria
Keywords:
Journalist, risks, safety, investigative journalist, journalismAbstract
This study examined the risks faced by investigative journalists in Nigeria. The Hazard Barrier Target Model was used as the theoretical foundation for this investigation. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, in which 353 journalists in Nigeria were surveyed through a Google questionnaire. Results showed that some of the risks journalists face are physical threats and violence, loss of job and other traumatic situations, risk of legal battles, intimidation, and harassment, among others. Results also showed that some of the impacts of the risks faced by investigative journalists in Nigeria include self-censorship, low engagement in the act of investigative journalism, poor quality of reports on issues worthy of in-depth investigation, and social and professional isolation. It was concluded that journalists agreed that the identified risks in the study are some of the risks investigative journalists in Nigeria face in the course of their job and that these risks they encounter to a large extent on a frequent basis, as such it has led to negative impacts on investigative journalism practice in Nigeria. The practical, policy, and scholarly implications of the study were highlighted.
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