Mainstream Media And The Challenges Of Survival In The Face Of Citizen Journalism Practice In Nigeria

Abstract

This study took a look at the challenges of survival confronting the mainstream media in Nigeria with the arrival and massive spread of citizen journalism in the country. It discovered that the mainstream media have come to accept citizen journalism as the new face of modern journalism, and that it has unleashed tremendous challenges on mainstream media practice and the entire communication ecosystem in Nigeria. In carrying out the study, the survey research design with the questionnaire as its instrument of data collection, was utilized. The population of the study was two hundred and forty (240), and the researcher arrived at a sample size of one hundred and fifty (150) using the Taro Yamane sample size determination formula.  The study relied on two theories: the Technological Determinism and the Democratic Participant Media Theories. Some of the findings are that citizen journalism has come to pose significant challenges in the modus operandi and execution of professional journalism practice in the country; that its revolutionary impact has compelled the mainstream media to innovate and come up with mutually beneficial strategies for both genres of journalism to thrive together ; that many citizen journalists in Nigeria lack the requisite and relevant knowledge and skills in information sourcing, gathering, gate-keeping and dissemination; and that mainstream journalists feel concerned and apprehensive of the deleterious effects of the negative aspects of citizen journalism like fake news. It concludes that citizen journalism comes with a lot of positive aspects as demonstrated in its faster breaking and delivery of news, supplementing the job of the professionals and keeping them on their toes, hence helping to make their work better. The recommendations, based on the findings of the study, are that  governments and communication experts should create and float enlightenment and training  programmes for the citizen journalists in the country to endue them with the professional skills they sorely require ; that governments create and enforce laws against fake news and unverified reports and that the mainstream media continue to partner with citizen journalists to promote mutually beneficial, robust and  synergistic relationship conducive for the growth, development and continued modernization of  journalism practice in Nigeria.