The consequences of citizen journalism in Nigeria

Like every profession, journalism has its own code of ethics guiding its practice. Unfortunately, the emergence of citizen journalism and some social media platforms is jeopardizing the conventional journalists’ effort toward ensuring good and smooth practice of the profession. Were 19 herders killed in Anambra? Female journalist abducted in Adamawa We are in an environment […]

Like every profession, journalism has its own code of ethics guiding its practice.

Unfortunately, the emergence of citizen journalism and some social media platforms is jeopardizing the conventional journalists’ effort toward ensuring good and smooth practice of the profession.

• Were 19 herders killed in Anambra?
• Female journalist abducted in Adamawa

We are in an environment where all manner of characters create blogs or other platforms and begin to spread unreliable news contents.

Journalists are tasked to report things that will bring development to the society, as such they are reminded to be cautious in their reporting and avoid confusing the public. However, citizen journalists have deviated from the normal laid down principles of the profession by reporting unnecessary and irrelevant issues causing disaffection in the society.

Objectivity, fairness and balance is what professional journalists are charged to observe in their reportage so as to give equal voice to both parties but to citizens journalist these do not exist.  It is all about attracting followers, thus the urge to publish fake news.

This has contributed to the chaos and conflict in the society with communal clashes, banditry, kidnapping raging in almost every part of the country. Indeed the advent of citizen journalists is doing immense harm to the journalism profession in Nigeria.

Therefore, it is time for trained journalists to wake up from their deep slumber and do everything necessary to restore the image of the profession.

At the same time, government should fast track its plan to regulate the use of social media to reduce the spread of fake news in the society and protect Nigerians.

Danlami Zakari Lumba, Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri