APPRAISAL OF PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF INVESTIGATIVE

JOURNALISM PRACTICE AMONG PRINT MEDIA JOURNALISTS A

STUDY OF PUNCH AND GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER JOURNALISTS

CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Investigative journalism in Nigeria is emerging likewise. Although the practice has been on since the
1980s and 1990s – two of the most important periods in the country’s political development as a result of
military rule, current trends like the use of social media, data journalism, and online tools and change in
the political landscape, have changed the practice of investigative journalism in Nigeria in recent years.
Newsrooms and journalists have gone ahead to carryout investigative works that hold power to account.
Many definitions of investigative journalism from different perspectives have been given by media
scholars and journalists but the underlining point remains that investigative journalism is a specialist form
of journalism that aims to unearth, scrutinize, make known, educate, interpret and raise awareness and
consciousness of the public to take action or demand for better governance from their leaders. Okon
(2017, p. 34) corroborates this by stating that “the common characteristics running across most definitions
are that investigative journalism is a non-profit, evidence-based, aggressive and adversarial journalistic
practice”. He argues that this type of journalism is a special reporting that is more thorough than
conventional news reporting, saddled with uncovering information not before gathered in order to inform
the public of events that might affect their lives (Okon, 2017). Bromley (2005) asserts that investigative
journalism is an integral part of the broader journalistic profession. There are multiple definitions
available, due perhaps to the long-term alignment of the practice with a number of content forms –
commercialized, sensationalized and populist forms.
The UNESCO’s Manual on investigative journalism (2011) view investigative journalism as “the
unveiling of matters that are concealed either deliberately by someone in a position of power, or
accidentally, behind a chaotic mass of facts and circumstances that obscure understanding - and the
analysis and exposure of all relevant facts to the public. It requires using both secret and open sources and
documents” (UNESCO, 2011, p. 1).
Globally, journalists are seen as watchdogs of society. Through their reports, they expose corruption,
human rights abuses, advance good governance and hold power to account. In some societies, the
constitution, as a legal document, empowers and confers authority on media houses and journalists to
carry out their responsibilities as the Fourth Estate of the Realm (after the executive, legislature and the
judiciary).
In Nigeria for instance, the constitution is clear on the role of the press. Chapter II section 39 subsection
(1) of the 1999 constitution states that “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including
freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.”
Similarly, subsection 2 states that: “Without prejudice to the generality of subsection I of this section,
every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of
information, ideas and opinions.”
The 1980s marked a major threshold on investigative journalism in Nigeria. In 1986, Dele
Giwa, Nigeria’s foremost investigative journalist and founder of Newswatch magazine which exposed
wrongdoings of the military government, was assassinated through a parcel bomb delivery. This single
event marked a turning point for investigative journalism in Nigeria.
Media scholars like Anyadike (2013), Okon (2017), Dare (2009) and Asemah and Asogwa (2012), have
argued that over the years, Nigerian (investigative) journalists have operated under threats at great
personal risks and have been at the receiving end of oppressive governments especially during military
regimes .This hasn’t changed much – frequent arrests, detention, harassment, threat to life and raids of
media houses have been the case for investigative journalists presently practicing in the country.

The primary responsibility of a journalist is to report issues of local, national and international interests
for public consumption and utilization in a society. In the process of doing so, the journalist is expected to
verify all information before disseminating to the pubic with a view to ensure the content of the
information are accurate. This act sometimes requires investigation. Therefore, investigative journalism
can be described as an act of uncovering the hidden wrong doings. And it is expensive, difficult and
requires dedication and perseverance. Hunter (n. d) writes that:

Investigative journalism involves exposing to the pubic matters that are concealed –
either deliberately by someone in a position of power, or accidentally, behind a
chaotic mass of facts and circumstances that obscure understanding. It requires
using both secret and open sources and documents.

From the above, it appears that investigative journalism is somewhat difficult unlike the conventional
reporting where reporters depend largely and sometimes entirely on readily available materials provided
by the sources such as governments, non-governmental organizations or individuals. The information
from the above sources is normally reactive with a view to create an objective image to earlier transmitted
news. Perhaps, this could be the reason why journalists are skeptical in venturing into investigative
journalism because it requires personal initiative, dedication and patience. And there are risks associated
with it.

In Nigeria, the practice of investigative journalism is not really inspiring (Olorunyomi, 2017). Very few
journalists particularly in the print media are into the practice. Olorunyomi (2017), the publisher of
Premium Times, states that “investigative journalism in Nigeria today is leading a grueling existence yet
earning an enormous call to action”. Other studies also established that investigative journalism is in
decline (Harcup, 2009; Emmanuel, 2010 and Arzika, 2011). What is more appealing to journalists is
reporting straightforward information and entertainment leading to publication of misinformation and
fake news without in-depth investigation thereby making rumors, unsubstantiated and emotions as the
bedrock of information gathering and dissemination (Anyadike, 2013).

Investigative Journalism (IJ) also called watchdog journalism means exposing how laws and regulations
are violated; it is holding the powerful accountable. Succinctly put, investigative journalism is the
finding, reporting and presentation of news which other people try to hide. Relatively new as the term is,
investigative journalism has through the decade metamorphosed into a formidable tool for critically and
thoroughly exposing facts and secrets which governments, institutions, organizations or individuals
would naturally try to obscure from the public. It must be noted that fact-finding and fact-giving are some
of the basic goals of journalism. Henceforth, it is necessary to determine any doubtful issue and that must
be made public too. However, Ugwu, (2010) observes that investigative journalism in a developing
nation like Nigeria is threatened with numerous challenges which are almost crippling its proper practice,
its prospects notwithstanding.

Hence, it is in view of the above that this research work will examine the problems and prospects for
investigative journalism among practicing journalists of The Punch Newspaper and The Guardian
Newspaper respectively in an attempt to find out whether or not investigative journalism is practiced by
the journalists in these media house; the level of the application of investigative journalism and the
problems and prospects being faced by the journalists who venture into investigative journalism.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There are claims that investigative journalism has been in the decline since its heydays in the 1970s, and
many investigations are now more concerned with entertainment than information (Harcup,2009:110).
However, investigative journalism as practiced in Nigeria is ineffective as it is constrained by several
problems despite its bright prospects. More often than not, journalists publish half-truth, distorted stories
and outright falsehood without in-depth investigation, thereby making rumors, unsubstantiated claims and
emotions the bedrock of information gathering. This provoked this study of investigative journalism
practice among journalists of The Punch newspaper, and The Guardian newspaper.
The study sought to: determine whether investigative journalism is practiced in these media houses,
Punch and Guardian; ascertain the level of investigative journalism practiced by journalists of Punch and
Guardian; determine the challenges facing investigative journalism in these media house and determine
the prospects of investigative journalism in their media house.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The study seeks to among other things:
1. Ascertain the seeming challenges to the maximization of the investigative journalism practice in
Nigeria.
2. Examine the problems and prospects for investigative journalism among practicing journalists of
The Punch Newspaper and The Guardian Newspaper respectively.
3. To find out whether or not investigative journalism is practiced by the journalists in these media
house.
4. Find out if the will truly Nigeria laws guarantee “unfettered” access to government-held
information among investigative journalists in Nigeria.
5. Find out if the FOI Act will make investigative journalism more promising, especially in
determining what or what not to report.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the problems in investigative journalism in Punch and Guardian Newspaper?
2. What is the medium of investigative journalism in Punch and Guardian Newspaper?
 3. What are the challenges of abiding to the code of conduct in investigative journalism in Punch
and Guardian Newspaper?
4. To what level is the application of investigative journalism in the two media house?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is important because it is geared towards appraising the problems and prospects of
investigative journalism among print media journalists, and to be consciously aware of the possible
threats that are attached to the operation of investigative journalism among print media journalists of
Punch and Guardian newspaper, and how these possible threats will be decimate. Knowing that the desire
of every media house is ideal efficiency of journalists.
Hence, the focus of this study is to understand the various constraints that affects journalists of print
media and to identify the factors that are responsible for these constraints, serving as a threat to
investigative journalists’ performance.
However, it is hoped that the innumerable thoughts that will be used in the course of this research work
can be transported to any media sphere wishing to increase or enhance journalists’ productivity and media
performance in investigating reporting. And also serves as benefits to other researchers interested in
working in this field, as it will serves as a reference material for them.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is limited investigating the problem and prospect of investigative journalism among print media
journalists, with a focus on the journalists of The Punch and Guardian newspaper.

The study being an attempt to appraise the problems and prospects of Investigative journalism among
print media journalist with a framework of measures which will identify the challenges that are often
faced by journalists of the research case study, the Punch and Guardian newspaper with the various
prospects that are attached to the practice of investigative journalism while the researcher will provide
ways through which journalists will alleviate or perhaps prevent glitches that are attached to the
profession, and how to manage them when they do arise.

1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Journalism: Journalism can be defined as the day to day gathering and transmitting of news, which
means journalism, is primarily concerned with giving out of information to an audience on a regular
basis through a suitable channel of communication.
Investigation: This is the process or act of scrutinizing and placing a careful search or examination in
order to discover facts that are hidden or concealed.
Investigative journalism: Investigative journalism can be defined as the collection and processing of
facts about current events for dissemination to the public through the medium of newspapers, magazine,
radio, television and so on. Its implementation requires journalists to have excellent skills that must be
mastered and learned.
In particular, research, analytical and communication have to be learned by the practitioners in an effort
to make their work more effective.
Journalist: This refers to a person whose primary occupation is the gathering writing, editing and
transmitting of information on a current event to the public.
Investigative Journalist: This is the person whose primary occupation is to gather, writes, and edits
with the use of investigation, interview, and transmit the information to the public.
Print Media: This is referred to as all forms of physical, printed paper publications such as newspapers,
journals, magazines, and books that are printed to disseminate information.
 CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter will comprehensively consider scholarly works and researches done on the topic. It
comprises of the conceptual, theoretical and empirical reviews.

2.2 CONCEPTUAL REVIEW

This is where scholars’ works on the independent and dependent variables on the topic will be considered.
Various scholarly angles to the topic will be put under subsection and be comprehensively examined.
Some of the concepts that will be reviewed are; The concept of Journalism, forms of Journalism, concept
of Investigative Journalism, concept of Print media, characteristics Investigative Journalism, overview of
problems and prospects of Investigative Journalism, Overview of Journalists response to the problems
and prospects of Investigative Journalism etc.

2.3 THEORETICAL REVIEW

Here, relative media theories to support the topic will be looked into. The relevant theory for this topic is
Social Responsibility Theory (SRT).
This study will be anchor within the premise of Social Responsibility Theory (SRT) which is one of the
six normative theories of the press propounded by Wilbur Schramm, Siebert and Peterson in 1956. Social
Responsibility is an ethical theory which posits that journalists are obliged to be responsive and
responsible to the society which they serve. It owes its origin to the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of
the Press, set up in the United States of America in 1947 to re-examine the concept of press freedom as
enunciated in the Libertarian (Free Press) Media Theory. Hutchin (1947)’s report notes that “a
responsible press should provide a full, truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s
events in a context which gives them meaning” (McQuail, 2008, p.171). For a journalist to give an
account of the day truthfully, comprehensively and intelligently, he should go beyond the ready-made
information at his disposal, thus, the need for investigative reporting.

Social responsibility theory allows free press without any censorship but at the same time the content of
the press should be discussed in public panel and media should accept any obligation from public
interference or professional self-regulations or both. The theory lies between both authoritarian theory
and libertarian theory because it gives total media freedom in one hand but the external controls in other
hand. Here, the press ownership is private.  The social responsibility theory moves beyond the simple
“Objective” reporting (facts reporting) to “Interpretative” reporting (investigative reporting).  The total
news is complete facts and truthful but the commission of the freedom press stated that “No longer giving
facts truthfully rather than give a necessary analyzed or interpretative report on facts with clear
explanations”.
 Chapter Three
Research methodology
3.1 Introduction
This research work will adopt various techniques to generate the necessary data to achieve a
meaningful and insightful result. This chapter will consider the research design, population of the
study, the sample size, sample procedure, method of data collection and method of data analysis
to be used
3.2 Research design
This study will adopt survey method.
3.3 Population of the study
The population of this study will be journalists from The Punch newspaper, and Guardian
newspaper.
3.4 Sample size

The sample size of this study will be determined using the Taro Yamanee formular.

n=N
1 + N (e) 2
Where n = Sample size
N = Population
e = Margin of error (0.05)
3.5 Sample procedure
The probability sampling method to be used for this study is simple random sampling procedure
so that every member of the population will have equal chance of being selected.

3.5 Instrumentation
In order to produce a complete set of all the reliable data for analysis and meet the intended
objectives of the study questionnaire will be the major instrument for collection of data.

3.6 Method of data collection

The two sources of data to be considered in this study are primary and secondary data. Primary
source will involve the use of questionnaires. Secondary data represents the information gathered
in the course of writing on the topic understudy using published works in libraries, textbooks
workshop papers, unpublished papers, journals and internet. The secondary data is essential for
the literature review.
3.7 Validity and reliability of instrument
The instrument use for this study will be validated by the supervisor who will examine the extent
at which the objective of this study will be achieved via the instrument and ascertain it ability to
gather the data for the topic under study.
Reliability is the ability of research instrument to generate the same data years after the study has
been done. The reliability of the research instrument will be done by selecting few journalists
that will be interrogated and made to establish whether they understand the content of the
questionnaire. However, these journalists v will not make part of the respondent for this study.

3.8 Method of data analysis

To analyze the data gathered from the field work, the researcher will present data using
frequency counts, tables and percentage.