Reassessing ‘journalistic objectivity’: Towards resolving sustainable development challenges in Nigeria – The community media’s perspective.

Patrick Edem Okon; Kalita J. Aruku; Faith Ene Agbo; Okon Effiong Udoyo

doi:10.18535/sshj.v9i06.1793

Abstract

This study explores how journalistic objectivity is practiced by community broadcasters in Nigeria vis-à-vis sustainable development considerations, as well as the proposals for the reassessment of journalistic objectivity in media laws. Drawing on the strengths of descriptive survey research design, the paper highlights the contextual, conceptual, and methodological frameworks proposed for the reformulation and applications of journalistic objectivity. The study also recommends a careful balancing of the need for detached details with the life world contexts of communities in news reports, so as to offer broader opportunities for justice and equity across communities. Again, because of the difficulty in measuring journalistic objectivity with exactitude, other terminologies such as honesty, accuracy, and fairness that connect better with local values and norms, should substitute objectivity in national regulatory frameworks as well as development prescriptions. Community media practitioners would also need to urgently address the disagreements within their ranks on basic policy issues, so as to have unified frameworks to handle those issues to impact positively on social development.

Keywords

Volunteerismpastoral careneo-PentecostalismautoethnographyBushbuckridge

References

This study explores how journalistic objectivity is practised by community broadcasters in Nigeria vis-à-vis sustainable development considerations, as well as the proposals for the reassessment of journalistic objectivity in media laws. Drawing on the strengths of descriptive survey research design, the paper highlights the contextual, conceptual and methodological frameworks proposed for the reformulation and applications of journalistic objectivity. The study also recommends a careful balancing of the need for detached details with the life world contexts of communities in news reports, so as to offer broader opportunities for justice and equity across communities. Again, because of the difficulty in measuring journalistic objectivity with exactitude, other terminologies such as honesty, accuracy and fairness that connect better with local values and norms, should substitute objectivity in national regulatory frameworks as well as development prescriptions. Community media practitioners would also need to urgently address the disagreements within their ranks on basic policy issues, so as to have unified frameworks to handle those issues to impact positively on social development.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-1] This study explores how journalistic objectivity is practised by community broadcasters in Nigeria vis-à-vis sustainable development considerations, as well as the proposals for the reassessment of journalistic objectivity in media laws. Drawing on the strengths of descriptive survey research design, the paper highlights the contextual, conceptual and methodological frameworks proposed for the reformulation and applications of journalistic objectivity. The study also recommends a careful balancing of the need for detached details with the life world contexts of communities in news reports, so as to offer broader opportunities for justice and equity across communities. Again, because of the difficulty in measuring journalistic objectivity with exactitude, other terminologies such as honesty, accuracy and fairness that connect better with local values and norms, should substitute objectivity in national regulatory frameworks as well as development prescriptions. Community media practitioners would also need to urgently address the disagreements within their ranks on basic policy issues, so as to have unified frameworks to handle those issues to impact positively on social development.Google Scholar ↗