Professionalising journalism has remained a major concern of stakeholders in the media industry over the years. Concerns over entry requirements, certification, regulation and ethical conduct have preoccupied discourse on the way forward for the media profession the world over. The Nigerian situation is a peculiar one, as the media industry predates the Nigerian state, and started at a time when there was no regulatory framework in place to enforce professional standards. Consequently, journalism practice in the country has remained an every-man affair from its inception to date. The advent of new media platforms that has thrown wide open, the gates of journalism practice to everyone equipped with a mobile cell phone and network service has introduced new complications in discourse on professionalising journalism in the country. In this study, a review of the major concerns over professionalism is undertaken. Hinged on the Social Responsibility Theory, the study argues that the quality of journalism obtainable in every clime depends largely on the extent to which the industry is professionalised. Yet, as the industry accepts the whole gamut of the new media in its day-to-day practice, the seeming convergence between conventional and citizen journalism has blurred the lines dividing professionals from amateurs, and heightened concerns over professionalism. As long as the fusion between the new media and conventional journalism lasts, the study argues that the quest to truly professionalise the media industry in the country remains a difficult one to accomplish, and the industry must adjust to the current realities introduced by the new media, and optimise the platforms to serve the audience optimally.
Vol. 1, No 2, pp. 128-143.