THERE WILL BE INK - Initiative for Policy Dialogue

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Media LandscapeThough Nigeria has one of the longest histories of free press in Africa, media struggle with majordemographic, political, and financial challenges.Nigeria’s media has thrived since the inception of democratic rule in 1999. Today, Nigeria has a vastnetwork of state-run and private media outlets at the federal, regional, and local levels. Nigeria hasmore than 100 newspapers and publications. Each of Nigeria’s 36 states runs its own radio station,and most operate television stations. There is greater state-ownership and regulation of broadcastmedia than print. Private broadcasters need state licenses to operate. There are roughly 17 privateradio stations in Nigeria.Although there are many more private newspapers than government-owned ones, there is still somedegree of self-censorship at these papers. In addition, many Nigerians we spoke with said thatpublications are often used for the political or financial advancement of the owner, which influencesreporting.Newspapers are very regionalized. The top paper in Lagos is not widely read in the north of thecountry, and vice versa.Content AnalysisThe quality of reporting in Nigeria on government activities and the oil sector is poor. Investigativereporting on these topics was described to our researchers as inadequate, and often non-existent.The main causes are lack of education and a lack of financial independence, both of which lead todependence on government and oil companies.Media coverage of business and the oil industry is not adequately keeping public informed, nor is itplaying a watchdog role. The media tend to report more on market opportunities and on storieswhich paint the government and oil industry in a positive light, rather than “following the money”and tracking down corruption. Journalists report on the existence of government budgets, but donot monitor them or their implementation. Often, stories on development are actually coveringfictional acts by the government or the oil industry. Journalists are bussed around to non-existentproject sites and paid to write false development stories. Omoyele Sowore calls this a “hugeproblem” in Nigeria.Reportage of the oil sector in particular is generally predictable and pedestrian. Given oil’s criticalimportance to the Nigerian economy, coverage of the industry in general, and particularly of themajor multi-nationals involved in extraction, is lacking. The media’s coverage of the extractive sectorgenerally lacks depth. Investigative stories are a rarity.Oil-related stories tend to fall into four categories.1) Public Relations, or “PR,” stories, in which the oil companies sponsored some initiative (orotherwise acted altruistically) and received positive coverage;2) Conferences, speeches, official events, and agreements, where some official activity orstatement from an oil company or its representative is duly reported;– 12 –
3) Crises or disruptions, where some aspect of the oil industry is disrupted (by spills, saboteurs,thieves, or unions) and/or oil company workers are kidnapped; and4) Numbers stories, which recount fluctuations in the price of oil, changes in a company’sproduction output, or investment figures.The “PR” stories often read as oil company press releases or something concocted by the company’spublic relations firm. Nearly half of a sample of 39 stories from November 18, 2008 to December12, 2008 that mentioned at least one oil company in the body of the text were “PR” stories. Thesestories include Vanguard articles about a Shell sponsored soccer tournament (“NNPC/Shell CupReturns to Lagos With Better Prize Money” 19 ), a Chevron funded anti-malaria campaign (“Nigeria:NNPC/Chevron Flag Off Roll Back Malaria Programme” 20 ), and a Shell funded microfinanceprogram (“Nigeria: Shell Gives N102 Million Micro Credit Loan to 2,013 Beneficiaries” 21 ). Whilethese stories highlight what are probably genuinely positive impacts of the oil companies on Nigeria,they also serve to shape public opinion. The sheer number of such articles, relative to the rest of thearticles written about the industry, reveals a press that is more comfortable providing positivecoverage of the oil industry than criticizing it, much less playing a role of civil society intermediary orhonest broker.The relationship between the press and oil companies is sometimes mutually reinforcing. An articlefrom This Day on December 12 (“Nigeria: This Day Awards 2009 - More Nominees Emerge” 22 )revealed an awards contest created by the newspaper to honor “remarkable performance ofcompanies and chief executives in the private sector.” Nominated in the “Oil & Gas Company ofthe Year” category are Mobil and a Chevron distribution subsidiary. Interestingly, just three daysearlier, a Vanguard article (“Nigeria: Chevron Endows NMMA Prize for Oil and Gas Reporting” 23 )reported the creation of a Chevron-endowed award for “the best journalist in oil and gas reporting.”The article quotes Chevron’s Lagos-branch Public Affairs manager stating, “the role of the media isespecially important to the oil and gas sector, an industry that is so vital to Nigeria's interest.”Despite its oft-generous depiction of the oil companies, the Nigerian press’s coverage of the oilindustries is by no means wholly positive. Nigeria’s oil industry is, of course, a turbulent one,particularly in recent years when sabotage and theft have seriously undermined Nigeria’s oilproduction capacity and output. Stories of disruption and sabotage were reported regularly in thesample. Examples include articles about Chevron security guards attacking protesting unionemployees (“Nigeria: Chevron Vs Workers - Security Men Manhandle Nupeng Chief, Workers” 24 ),Shell’s shutting down of a gas plant after it was disrupted by theft (“Nigeria: Shell Shuts Gas PlantOver Vandalism” 25 ), and a story about a group of protesting youths who succeed in shutting down aShell office (“Nigeria: Youths Invade Shell Office” 26 ). It should be noted that, in these stories, the oil19 “NNPC/Shell Cup Returns to Lagos With Better Prize Money,” Vanguard, 12 December 2008.20 Emma Arubi, “Nigeria: NNPC/Chevron Flag Off Roll Back Malaria Programme,” 3 December 2008.21 Festus Ahon, “Nigeria: Shell Gives N102 Million Micro Credit Loan to 2,013 Beneficiaries,” Vanguard, 19 November2008.22 Tokunbo Adedoja, “Nigeria: Thisday Awards 2009 - More Nominees Emerge,” This Day, 12 December 2008.23 Yemie Adeoye, “Nigeria: Chevron Endows NMMA Prize for Oil and Gas Reporting,” Vanguard, 9 December 2008.24 Emma Amaize, “Nigeria: Chevron Vs Workers - Security Men Manhandle Nupeng Chief, Workers,” Vanguard, 4December 2008.25 Bassey Udo, Adeola Yusuf and Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, “Nigeria: Shell Shuts Gas Plant Over Vandalism,” DailyIndependent, 27 November 2008.26 Segun James, “Nigeria: Youths Invade Shell Office,” This Day, 26 November 2008.– 13 –
Page 1 and 2: THEREWILLBE INKA study of journalis
Page 3 and 4: AcknowledgementsThis paper has bene
Page 7 and 8: Executive SummaryPurpose of the Rep
Page 9 and 10: journalists in these countries that
Page 11 and 12: Existing International Training Opp
Page 13 and 14: • Consumer Affairs and Informatio
Page 15 and 16: Background 3Of the three countries
Page 17: pervasive conflict in the Niger Del
Page 21 and 22: Low pay and low regardOne of the mo
Page 23 and 24: Even in cases where working journal
Page 25 and 26: But while some reporters think FOIB
Page 27 and 28: When asked how much the media could
Page 29 and 30: the effects of these challenges for
Page 31 and 32: detailed analysis of the opportunit
Page 33 and 34: journalist said he has, however,
Page 35 and 36: completely make use of some of the
Page 37 and 38: money. Their knowledge of what medi
Page 39 and 40: Notes on conducting research in Nig
Page 41 and 42: Ghana- 35 -
Page 43 and 44: evenues each year,” 106 which wou
Page 45 and 46: entertainment news, scandals, and p
Page 47 and 48: The rise of business-focused journa
Page 49 and 50: coverage of the oil industry is als
Page 51 and 52: needed supplementary income to cash
Page 53 and 54: as supporting one political party o
Page 55 and 56: Numerous journalists recounted how
Page 57 and 58: Training programs available to busi
Page 59 and 60: Amos Safo, editor-in-chief at the p
Page 61 and 62: Notes on conducting research in Gha
Page 63 and 64: Background 136Literacy and Educatio
Page 65 and 66: “sufficient information” about
Page 67 and 68: or criminal charges for content the
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have such difficulty obtaining info
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The majority of those interviewed b
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commitment to their profession and
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Notes on Conducting Research in Uga
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Recommendations for Revenue Watch I
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people who have no journalism backg
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analyzes business,” he said, “e
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A journalist with The Punch said,
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The Media Foundation for West Afric
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Length of TrainingRoughly three-qua
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industries, for instance, ought to
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otherwise being published in the pr
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Non-Training Recommendations for Ug
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Appendix A: NigeriaPotential Partne
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journalists. Biakolo is very profes
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Television Stations• Nigerian Tel
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have two to four month professional
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City: AccraTelephone: +233 (021) 22
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Fax: +256 414 255 495E-mail: umdf@a
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• What do you think are the most
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Appendix E: Survey Questions1. Name
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18. How effective were the teaching
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28. What are the most important cha
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1. Journalists by Country2. How wou
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5. How often do you travel out of t
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9. Which organization(s) sponsored
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12. After completing the training(s
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