Citizen Journalism in Nigeria: Possibilities and Challenges

Abstract

The study evaluated the possibilities and challenges of citizen journalism in Nigeria and discovered that Citizen Journalism is emerging as a powerful phenomenon across Nigeria as evidenced in popular citizen journalism websites. The Sahara Reporters, one of such websites, is noted for its timely reports on issues and events have shown in a study conducted by Dare (2011:44) where 86 of the 120 respondents surveyed cited the Sahara reporters as a source of breaking news. By its interactivity and ability to deliver news in split seconds, citizen journalism has posed a serious challenge to the mainstream media in Nigeria. However, in as much as citizen journalism in Nigeria has broadened people’s access to a variety of news, this study suggests that during emergencies, citizen journalists should not spread news or post pictures that may hamper life-saving assignments such as rescue operations. The need therefore to sensitize Nigerian citizen journalists on proper use of this emerging brand of journalism is both obvious and urgent.