Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Nigerian Journalism: Global, African, and Local Perspectives

Abstract

Journalism in Nigeria, as in many democracies, is confronted with ethical dilemmas that test the balance between professional ideals and systemic pressures. This research explores how Nigerian journalists navigate these dilemmas within global, African, and national contexts, drawing on a qualitative literature review and the framework of Social Responsibility Theory. Findings reveal that while universal principles of accuracy, independence, and accountability remain benchmarks, journalists operate under structural constraints such as political ownership, censorship, poor remuneration, and safety threats. Specific Nigerian challenges (such as the persistence of “brown envelope” journalism, regulatory clampdowns like the suspension of AIT, and the dilemmas of digital reporting during #EndSARS) are situated within broader global concerns over misinformation and African realities of repression and economic precarity. The study contributes by synthesising these three levels of analysis into a comparative framework and proposing context-specific reforms: strengthening journalist unions, institutionalising fact-checking, improving working conditions, and advocating legal protections. It concludes that sustainable ethical practice in Nigeria requires addressing structural vulnerabilities while adapting global best practices to local realities.