Professionalization of Media Practice in Nigeria: An Analytical Survey

This is an analytical survey study which X-rayed the professionalization of media practice in Nigeria. Anchored on the social responsibility and Development Media theories of the press, the paper among other things ascertained the prevailing professionalism status of Journalism practice in Nigeria, examine the preconditions for a career to be identified as a profession, ascertained the correlation between journalism practice and preconditions for identifying a career as a profession, ascertain the processes of professionalization and ascertained the relationship between media practitioners and professionalism. The study provided a cursory look at the mass media landscape in Nigeria. The concepts of professionalism, profession and professionalization were critically X-rayed and differentiated. The study adopted a focus group discussion (FGD) method and held 3 sessions of the FGD at Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi. Using the explanation building technique as a method of data presentation, the study found, based on the preconditions for an occupation to be identified as profession, that media practitioners in Nigeria were not yet professionals. It recommended that the NUJ should regulate the entry requirements into the profession and ensure strict compliance to the code of conduct of the profession.