From Watchdogs to Praise-Singers: The Ethical Decay of Nigerian Journalism and Its Toll on Democracy
By Liberty Andrew JP
The history of the Nigerian press is one of defiance. From the colonial era to the dark days of military dictatorship, journalists were the vanguard of the people’s liberty. They were not trained to inflate the egos of the powerful; they were trained to speak truth to power. However, a shadow has fallen over the Fourth Estate. Today, a new generation of practitioners has increasingly traded the noble “Watchdog” mantle for the role of a “Praise-Singer,” sacrificing the rules of the game for political crumbs.
The Crisis of Sycophancy and Materialism
The fundamental code of ethics in journalism—objectivity, balance, and integrity—is being systematically dismantled. In its place, a culture of sycophancy has emerged. We are witnessing a professional “double standard” where the critical lens is reserved only for those who cannot pay, while those in power are shielded by a wall of paid-for propaganda.
Poverty is often cited as the catalyst for this decline. While the economic hardship facing media practitioners is real, it cannot serve as a valid excuse for undermining the profession. When journalists use “materialism” as a compass, they do not just lose their credibility; they lose their soul. This shift is most visible in what is now called “Citizen Journalism” on platforms like Facebook, where sensationalism and “pay-to-play” reporting have replaced factual investigation.
A Broken System: The Judiciary and the Erosion of Trust
This ethical vacuum in the media has direct consequences for the health of our democracy. A silent or compromised press is a co-conspirator in the failure of other institutions.
The judiciary, historically regarded as the “last hope of the common man,” has become perhaps the most scrutinized and criticized arm of government. When the legal system is perceived as “useless” or compromised, it is the duty of the journalist to expose the rot. Yet, when journalists are on the payroll of the very politicians influencing the courts, the system remains unchallenged. This synergy of corruption between the pen and the gavel reduces Nigerian democracy to a mere shadow—a system described by many disillusioned citizens as “trash.”
The Danger of “Facebook Journalism”
Digital platforms have blurred the lines between professional reporting and partisan activism. “Citizen journalism” should ideally provide a voice to the voiceless, but in the Nigerian context, it has frequently become a tool for blackmail or unverified “praise-singing.” Without the gatekeeping of traditional editorial standards, the public is fed a diet of misinformation tailored to the highest bidder.
Reclaiming the Standard
To restore the dignity of the profession and save our democratic experiment, a radical shift is required:
Moral Re-armament: Journalists must rediscover the courage to be unpopular with the ruling class.
Professional Boundaries: We must distinguish between “content creation” for profit and “journalism” for the public good.
Institutional Reform: The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Guild of Editors must move beyond issuing statements and begin de-listing practitioners who flagrantly violate the code of conduct.
The pen is still a mighty weapon, but only if it is not sold. If the Nigerian journalist continues to prioritize the ego of the politician over the hunger of the citizen for truth, the profession will descend into irrelevance, and democracy will follow.
Liberty Andrew JP, a media practitioner writes from Jalingo, the Taraba state capital
