Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The case of Nigeria
AbstractIn the current democratic dispensation in Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general, the public reputation of politicians and people in authority has acquired a new higher premium on which the political context is fought. Citizens make use of available information and knowledge about the...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2244153 |
| _version_ | 1827586881567588352 |
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| author | Muhammed Musa Osman Antwi-Boateng |
| author_facet | Muhammed Musa Osman Antwi-Boateng |
| author_sort | Muhammed Musa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AbstractIn the current democratic dispensation in Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general, the public reputation of politicians and people in authority has acquired a new higher premium on which the political context is fought. Citizens make use of available information and knowledge about the reputation of politicians to arrive at rational choices. In the context of the responsibility placed on journalism in a liberal democracy, the media is looked upon to guarantee citizenship by, among others, making politicians and people in authority accountable. The symbolism that Watergate bears and brings to modern journalism lies in monitoring power and authority in the service of the general interests of society. For those at the center of its practice, investigative journalism provides journalists with the right to detach from vested interests in society and the capacity to bark at power on behalf of the public. Using a historical research methodology, this paper explores the role of investigative journalism in making power accountable in the contemporary era of promotional politics. This paper concludes that the challenges confronting investigative journalism in Nigeria go beyond the hostile illiberal democratic environment within which journalists operate. Rather, journalists are confronted with structural, institutional and political challenges in making power accountable, as both the state and politicians employ various means, including the use of promotional intermediaries to launder their public image. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:08:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4c8b281968b448f8bf1fc39d1457fab7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-1886 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:08:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4c8b281968b448f8bf1fc39d1457fab72023-12-12T12:45:37ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862023-12-019210.1080/23311886.2023.2244153Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The case of NigeriaMuhammed Musa0Osman Antwi-Boateng1Department of Media Studies & Creative Industries, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAEDepartment of Government & Society, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAEAbstractIn the current democratic dispensation in Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general, the public reputation of politicians and people in authority has acquired a new higher premium on which the political context is fought. Citizens make use of available information and knowledge about the reputation of politicians to arrive at rational choices. In the context of the responsibility placed on journalism in a liberal democracy, the media is looked upon to guarantee citizenship by, among others, making politicians and people in authority accountable. The symbolism that Watergate bears and brings to modern journalism lies in monitoring power and authority in the service of the general interests of society. For those at the center of its practice, investigative journalism provides journalists with the right to detach from vested interests in society and the capacity to bark at power on behalf of the public. Using a historical research methodology, this paper explores the role of investigative journalism in making power accountable in the contemporary era of promotional politics. This paper concludes that the challenges confronting investigative journalism in Nigeria go beyond the hostile illiberal democratic environment within which journalists operate. Rather, journalists are confronted with structural, institutional and political challenges in making power accountable, as both the state and politicians employ various means, including the use of promotional intermediaries to launder their public image.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2244153Nigerian politicsinvestigative journalismpromotional politicsdemocracyinformation subsidysymbolic capital |
| spellingShingle | Muhammed Musa Osman Antwi-Boateng Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The case of Nigeria Cogent Social Sciences Nigerian politics investigative journalism promotional politics democracy information subsidy symbolic capital |
| title | Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The case of Nigeria |
| title_full | Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The case of Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The case of Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The case of Nigeria |
| title_short | Investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics: The case of Nigeria |
| title_sort | investigative journalism in the era of promotional politics the case of nigeria |
| topic | Nigerian politics investigative journalism promotional politics democracy information subsidy symbolic capital |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2244153 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT muhammedmusa investigativejournalismintheeraofpromotionalpoliticsthecaseofnigeria AT osmanantwiboateng investigativejournalismintheeraofpromotionalpoliticsthecaseofnigeria |