Journalists and Political Sources in Nigeria

Between Information Subsidies and Political Pressures

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12977342
AutoresRodney Ciboh (0000-0002-2160-0959, Benue State University, autor correspondente)
Ano2016
Volume22
Fascículo2
Páginas185-201
Data de publicação2016-12-26
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe International Journal of Press/Politics (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1940-1612 • E-ISSN: 1040-1620
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1940161216681164
OpenAlexW2601913837
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas13
Referências citadas27

The relationship between journalists and political sources has been characterized by a tug of war between reporters and officials where top politicians have the upper hand in the coproduction of news through their ability to provide critical information subsidies that most news media rely on. The dynamic of the journalist–source relationship has, however, mostly been analyzed in stable high-income democracies. This article goes beyond existing research by analyzing the relationship between reporters and officials in Nigeria, in principle, a democracy but in practice, a hybrid regime where journalists face substantial political pressures. Through a combination of content analysis and in-depth interviews, it shows how journalists in Nigeria are not only dependent on the information subsidies found in the West but also affected by politicians using positive (monetary awards) and negative (intimidation and violence) tangible incentives that go well beyond information subsidies. The article argues that this shapes the nature of coproduction of news in Nigeria and that more broadly, the resources available to politicians to influence journalists through such positive tangible incentives and the degree to which they, with impunity, can use negative tangible incentives, should be key dimensions for future comparative work on relations between reporters and officials as political communication research goes beyond stable democracies where money handouts and violence is unlikely to be the key factors influencing news production

Coproduction · Democracy · Economics · Impunity · Incentive · Intimidation · Market economy · Political communication · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Sociology · Subsidy · Law · Media Influence and Politics · Media Studies and Communication · Social Media and Politics