NEWS COMMERCIALIZATION AND ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN NIGERIAN BROADCAST MEDIA: A STUDY OF OSUN STATE

Abstract

This study examined the impact of news commercialization on the ethical responsibilities of broadcast media in Osun State, Nigeria. Anchored on the Social Responsibility Theory, the research employed a quantitative approach, using simple random sampling to select 230 media personnel, including journalists, editors, producers, and executives from both private and public broadcast stations. Data was collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that 65% of respondents acknowledged that news commercialization negatively affects media independence, often leading to biased reporting. Additionally, 58% of participants identified financial pressures as a major obstacle to upholding journalistic ethics. Public trust in commercialized news content was notably low, with 62% of respondents perceiving such news as exaggerated or distorted. To mitigate these effects, 70% of media professionals supported stricter regulations, while 55% endorsed internal ethical policies as essential measures to balance commercial interests with responsible journalism. However, independent funding was considered an unsustainable solution, with only 22% viewing it as viable. The study highlights the urgent need for policymakers to strengthen regulatory frameworks and enforce ethical journalism standards to preserve media credibility. While commercialization is a necessary economic reality, ethical journalism can be safeguarded through robust policies, professional integrity, and greater audience engagement mechanisms.